Pilotage and Deduced Reckoning

OBJECTIVE: To become familiar with pilotage and deduced reckoning and how to apply them before and during flight.

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
Fundamentals of pilotage and dead reckoning

COMPLETION STANDARDS

Exhibits knowledge of the elements related to pilotage and dead reckoning
Follows the preplanned course by reference to landmarks
Identifies landmarks by relating surface features to chart symbols
Navigates by means of precomputed headings, groundspeeds, and elapsed time
Corrects for and records the differences between preflight groundspeed and heading calculations and those determined en route
Verifies the airplane’s position within three (3) nautical miles of the flight-planned route
Arrives at the en route checkpoints within five (5) minutes of the initial or revised ETA and provides a destination estimate
Maintains the appropriate altitude, ±200 feet and headings, ±15°

COMMON ERRORS

Guessing at landmarks
Heading towards first airport sighted instead of using flight planning and navigation log
Becoming lost
Not using all navigational tools available. In Southern California or other complex airspaces, need 3 independent navigation methods

THINGS TO REMEMBER

STUDY