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Cross Country Flight Planning

OBJECTIVE
  • To develop the pilot’s understanding and skill with cross-country flight planning.

ELEMENTS
  • Terms used in navigation 
  • Features of aeronautical charts 
  • Importance of using the proper and current aeronautical charts 
  • Method of plotting a course, selection of fuel stops and alternates, and appropriate actions in the event of unforeseen situations 
  • Diverting to an alternate 
  • Lost procedures 
  • Computation of fuel consumption 
  • Importance of preparing and properly using a flight log 
  • Importance of a weather check and the use of good judgment in making a “go/no-go” decisions 
  • Purpose of and procedure used in, filing a flight plan 

COMPLETION STANDARDS
  • Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to cross-country flight planning by presenting and explaining a pre-planned VFR cross-country flight, as previously assigned by the examiner. On the day of the practical test, the final flight plan shall be to the first fuel stop, based on maximum allowable passengers, baggage, and/or cargo loads using real-time weather 
  • Uses appropriate and current aeronautical charts 
  • Properly identifies airspace, obstructions, and terrain features 
  • Selects easily identifiable en route checkpoints 
  • Selects most favorable altitudes considering weather conditions and equipment capabilities 
  • Computes headings, flight time, and fuel requirements 
  • Selects appropriate navigation system/facilities and communication frequencies 
  • Applies pertinent information from NOTAMs, A/FD and other flight publications 
  • Completes a navigation log and simulates filing a VFR flight plan 





COMMON ERRORS
  • Not planning 
  • Not checking computer-based flight planning tools against a chart, performance numbers, or weather briefings (Sure, both departure and destination airports are VFR, but there is a cold front with squall line thunderstorms between the departure and destination airports) 
  • Using any one tool at the exclusion of others 
  • Thinking GPS solves all navigation problems 
  • A good pilot uses more than one method of navigation, at least three when in high density airspace. 

THINGS TO REMEMBER
  • While electronic flight planning programs are great and can reduce flight planning work, PIC still responsible for safe and legal conduct of flight 
  • If using electronically generated plan for checkride, expect to demonstrate manual flight planning process during practical test 

STUDY
  • “Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge” Ch. 15 
  • “Aeronautical Information Manual” Ch. 1-6 
  • Aeronautical Charts 
  • Flight Plan Form 
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