Cross Country Flight Planning

Question 1

What are three common ways to navigate?

Answer 1

A. Pilotage ( reference to visibile landmarks)
B. Dead reckoning - computing directin amd distance from a known positioin
C. Radio navigation

Question 2

What types of aeronautical charts are available for use in VFR navigation?

Answer 2

A. Sectional charts - visual navigation flr slow to medium speed aircraft. One inch equals 6.86 nautical miles. Revised semiannually except for alaska.

B. VFR terminal area charts (TAC)-depict the class B airspace while similar tomsectionals TACs have morndetails because one inch equals 3.43 nautical miles.

C. World Aeronautical Charts (WAC) - WACs cover land areas for navigation by moderate speed aircraft operating at high altitudes. Because of smaller scale WACs do not show as much detail as sectionals or TACs, and are not recommended for pilots of low speed or low altitude. one inch equals 13.7 nautical miles. WACs are revised annually except for Alaska and the Caribbean.

D. VFR Flyway planning charts - Chart is printed on reverse side of TAC charts. The coverage is the same as the TAC. They depict flight paths and altitudes recommended for use to bypass high traffic areas.

Question 3

What is an “isogonic line?”

Answer 3

Shown on most aeronautical charts as broken magenta lines, isogonic lines connect points of equal magnetic variation. They show the amount and direction of magnetic variation, which from time to time may vary.

Question 4

What is “magnetic variation?”

Answer 4

Variation is the angle between true north and magnetic north. It is expressed as east variation or west variation depending upon whether magnetic north (MN) is to the was or west of true not (TN) respectively.

Question 5

How do you convert a true direction to a magnetic direction?

Answer 5

Note the variation shown by the nearest isogonic line. If it’s west add, if it’s east subtract.

East is least
West is best

Question 6

What are lines of longitude and latitude?

Answer 6

Circles parallel to the equator are parallels of latitude and enable us to measure distance in degrees north or south of the equator. Meridians of longitude are drawn from he north pole to the south pole and are right angles to the equator. “Prime Meridian” passes through Greenwich and is zero line from which measurements are made in degrees east and west to 180º. the 48 conterminous states are between 25 degrees and 49 degrees north latitude and between 67 and 125 degrees west longitude.

Question 7

What is “magnetic deviation”?

Answer 7

the magnetic influences of the airplane deflecting the compass needle from its normal reading. Different for every airplane and caries for different heading in the same airplane. Deviation may be found on the compass card located in the plane.

Question 8

Name several types of radio aids to air navigation.

Answer 8

A. NDB (Nondirectional Radio Beacon)

B. VOR (Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range)

C. VORTAC ( VHF Omnidirectional range/ Tactical Air Navigation)

D. DME (Distance Measuring Equipment)

E. RNAV (Area Navigation) includes INS, LORAN, VOR/DME - referenced and GPS.

Question 9

What is a “VOR” or “VORTAC”?

Answer 9

VORs are VHF radio stations that project radials in all directions from the station. Each of these is denoted by outbound magnetic direction. Almost all VOR stations will also be a VORTAC. A VORTAC provides the standard bearing information of a VOR plus distance information to pilots of airplanes which have distance measuring equipment (DME).

Question 10

Within what frequency range do VORs operate?

Answer 10

In the VHF (very high frequency) band between 108 and 117.95 MHz which are immediately below aviation communication frequencies.

Question 11

What is a VOR radial?

Answer 11

A line of magnetic bearing extending from an omnidirectional range (VOR). A VOR projects 360 radials from the station. Radials are always identified by their direction “from” the station. Regardless of heading, an aircraft on the 360° radial will always be located north of the station.

Question 12

How are VOR NAVAIDS classified?

Answer 12

Terminal, Low, and High

Question 13

What limitations if any apply to VOR reception distances?

Answer 13

What limitations if any apply to VOR reception distances?
VOR are subject to line of sight restrictions, and the range varies proportionally to the altitude of the receiving equipment.

Question 14

What are the different methods for checking the accuracy of the of the VOR receiver equipment?

Answer 14

A. VOT check - plus or minus 4º
B. Ground checkpoint - plus or minus 4º
C. Airborne checkpoint - plus or minus 6º
D. Dual VOR check - 4º between each other
E. Selected radial over a known ground point - plus or minus 6º

Question 15

What is an “NDB”?

Answer 15

A non directional beacon; a low to medium frequency radio beacon transmits no directional signals whereby the pilot of an aircraft properly equipped can determine bearings and “home” or “track” to the station.

Question 16

Within what frequency range do NDBs operate?

Answer 16

These facilities usually operate in the frequency band of 190 to 535 kHz (immediately below AM broadcast bands) and transmit a continuous carrier with either 400 or 1020 Hz modulation. All radio beacons, except compass locators, transmit a continuous three-letter identification code.

Question 17

What is “ADF”?

Answer 17

Automatic direction finder - many general aviation type airplanes are equipped with automatic direction finder (ADF) radio receiving equipment which operate in the low to medium frequency bands. To navigate using ADF, the pilot tunes the receiving equipment to a ground station known as the Non-Directional Beacon (NDB). The most common use of ADF is that of “homing” by flying the needle to the station.

Question 18

What is “DME”?

Answer 18

Distance Measuring Equipment (airborne and ground) - used to measure in nautical miles, the slant range distance of an aircraft from the DME navigational aid. Aircraft equipped with DME are provided with distance and ground speed information when receiving a VORTAC or TACAN facility. DME operates on frequencies in the UHF spectrum between 960 MHz and 1215 MHz.

Question 19

What is DF guidance?

Answer 19

DF guidance is given to aircraft in distress or other aircraft that request the service. Headings are provided to the aircraft by facilities equipped with direction finding equipment. Well lead to DF guidance station or airport given as workload permits.

Question 20

While en route on a cross country flight, weather has deteriorated and it becomes necessary to divert to an alternate airport. What is the recommended procedure?

Answer 20

mark your present position on the chart and write the current time next to your mark.
•consider the relative distance to all suitable alternatives; select the on most appropriate for the emergency.
•determine the magnetic course to the alternate and divert immediately
•wind correction, actual distance, and estimated time/fuel can be computed while en route.

Note: Us the radial of a nearby VOR or airway that most closely parallels the course to the alternate. You can use a piece of paper as a straightedge and the scale at the bottom of the chart.

Question 21

What is the most common type of communication radio equipment installed in general aviation aircraft? How many channels are available?

Answer 21

Most common type is VHF. Frequencies between 118.0 and 136.975 MHz and us classified as 720 or 760 depending on the number of channels it can accommodate.

Question 22

What is the universal VHF “Emergency frequency?

Answer 22

121.5 mHz

Question 23

What frequencies are used for ground control?

Answer 23

Most are between 121.6 to 121.9

Question 24

What is a “CTAF”?

Answer 24

Common Traffic Advisory Frequency - for the practice of carrying out airport advisory practices while operating at airports without an operating control tower. CTAF may be a UNICOM, MULTICOM, FSS or TOWER and identified in appropriate publications.

Question 25

What is UNICOM and what frequencies are designated for its use?

Answer 25

UNICOM is a nongovernment communication facility which may provide airport information at certain airports. Airports other than those with a control tower/FSS airport will normally use 122.700, 122.725, 122.800, 122.975, 123.000, 123.050, and 123.075. Airports with a control tower or an FSS on an airport will normally use 122.950 MHz.

Question 26

What does ATIS mean?

Answer 26

Automatic Terminal Information Service - continuous broadcast of recorded no control information in selected high-activity terminal areas. Purpose to improve controller effectiveness by relieving frequency congestion.

Question 27

If operating into an airport without an operating control tower, FSS or UNICOM, what procedure should be followed?

Answer 27

Where there is no tower, FSS, or UNICOM station on the airport use MULTICOM frequency 122.9 for self-announce procedures.

Question 28

What is an RCO?

Answer 28

Remote communications outlet is an unmanned communications facility remotely controlled by ATC personnel, Established for the purpose of providing ground to-ground communications between pilots and ATC located at satellite airports.

Question 29

How can a pilot determine what frequency is appropriate for activating his/her VFR flight plan once airborne?

Answer 29

How can a pilot determine what frequency is appropriate for activating his/her VFR flight plan once airborne?
A. Ask the FSS briefer during the preflight weather briefing
B. Consult the communications section under flight service for the airport of departure in the A/FD

Question 30

What is the meaning of a heavy-lined blue box surrounding a NAVAID frequency?

Answer 30

Indicates FSS frequencies 121.5, 122.2, 243.0, and 255.4 are available

Question 31

Why would a frequency be printed on top of a heavy lined blue box?

Answer 31

This usually means that this frequency is available in addition to the standard FSS frequencies.

Question 32

What is the meaning of a thin-lined blue box surrounding a NAVAID frequency?

Answer 32

A plain box without frequencies on top indicates that there are no standard FSS frequencies available. These NAVAIDs will have a “no voice” symbol (underlined frequency).

Question 33

Why would a frequency be printed on top of a thin-lined blue box?

Answer 33

Best frequencies to use in the immediate vicinity of the NAVAID site, and will ensure reception by the controlling FSS at low altitudes without terrain interference. Normally followed by an R which indicates FSS can only receive on that frequency. Pilot listens for response over the NAVAID frequency.

Question 34

How can a pilot determine the availability of HIWAS when looking at a VFR sectional chart?

Answer 34

There will be an “H” in the upper right corner of the identification box.

(Hazardous InFlight Weather Advisory Service)