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