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Flight Planning & Preparing a Navlog:
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According to
FAR 91.103, pilots are required to become familiar
with information pertaining to the flight.
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These required
actions can be remembered using the acronym
"NW-KRAFT"
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N: Notice to
Airman (NOTAMS) and Temporary Flight Restrictions
(TFRs)
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W: Weather
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K: Known ATC
Delays
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R: Runways
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A: Alternate
plan of action (in case the flight cannot be
completed as planned)
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F: Fuel requirements
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T: Takeoff and
landing distances
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Based on your
planning, you will be making a GO / NO-GO decision.
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Briefing
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Always Start
with a Standard Briefing
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1- overall synopsis
of the route
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2- departure
-> en route -> destination reported weather
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3- departure
-> en route -> destination forecast weather
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4- winds/temp
aloft
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5- icing and
freezing levels
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6- NOTAMS and
advisories for airport/runway/taxiway closure,
navaids out, special airspace restrictions,
etc.
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Review specific
airport information
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Use an Airport
Diagram and Digital- Chart Supplement (d-CS)
(or similar reference airnav.com - Foreflight,
etc.)
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1- Runways and
taxiways
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2- Based on weather
forecasts, Determine probable crosswind conditions
at destination(s)
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3- Noise abatement
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4- FBOs
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5- Services and
fees
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| Prepare a Navlog
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1 - Plotting
the True Course (TC)
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(know
your plotter - nautical miles vs. statue miles,
etc)
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Use a chart and
a plotter to draw a straight line from departure
to destination
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Generally the
most direct route is preferred but there are
many things to consider
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- Airspace -
airspace transitions or avoidance, restricted
airspace,VFR corridors, etc.
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- Terrain/Altitude
- TEFs/obstacles, minimum altitudes over rough
terrain and water, useful checkpoints/alternates,
etc.
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- Airports -
runways,frequencies, traffic patterns, fuel
services,lighting, etc.
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- Availability
of landmarks
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- Method of navigation
(VORs, etc)
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- Alternate airports
and possible diversions
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- Emergency considerations
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- Fuel/rest stops
and leg lengths
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- Aircraft/pilot
capabilities
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Use a plotter
to determine TC for each leg (when applicable)
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2 - Select Checkpoints
& Measure Distances
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Checkpoints
allow you to follow the progress of your flight
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- Check points
should be unique enough to be identified
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- Check points
should be large enough to be found
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- Check points
can be off the route - you can identify when
abeam
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- Check points
should be set approximately 10 NM apart
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- A highlighter
can be used to help check points "stand
out"on the sectional
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- Your first
checkpoint should be a visual "on-course"
checkpoint.
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- Your last checkpoint
should be the destination airport.
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- Be aware of
landmarks that disappear (such as mountains
or dense foliage)
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- Never rely
on just one landmark. A combination of two is
more reliable
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- Study map for
big picture before picking landmarks
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- Pick distinct
and unique landmarks (intersections next to
a river, next to a bridge)
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3 - Determine
Magnetic Course
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True North -
Where lines of longitude meet at the North Pole
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Magnetic North
- Where the magnetic compass actually points
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The difference
between the two is Magnetic Variation (or Variation),
and is represented by isogonic lines on sectional
charts.
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- Isogonic lines
are points of equal variation, represented in
degrees east or west
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- Memory
aide "east is least (minus), west is best
(plus)"
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Magnetic Course
(MC) = True Course (TC) - East Variation
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Magnetic Course
(MC) = True Course (TC) + West Variation
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Magnetic Course
determines the proper VFR cruising altitude
(14 CFR § 91.159), for the direction of
flight
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4 - Select a
Suitable Altitude:
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Consider the
following:
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- Terrain clearance
& water crossings
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- Cloud bases
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- Winds aloft
- pick an altitude which favors your route of
flight
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- Airspace avoidance
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- VFR cruising
altitudes (see 14 CFR 91.159)
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- Aircraft performance
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- Distance of
leg - (ie - no need to climb too high if you
are going a short distance)
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5 - Determine
True Airspeed
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After you have
chosen your desired altitude, determine your
TAS using the appropriate chart in your POH.
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6
- Compute Time & Headings
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Using forecast
Winds Aloft, TC, and TAS, compute with an E6B:
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Ground Speed
(GS)
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Wind Correction
Angles (WCA) & Headings
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7 - Fuel requirements
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Using GS and
distances will compute your times
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Using the appropriate
chart in your POH, compute fuel burn based on
your times
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8 - Determine
Compass Heading
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Adjust for Deviation
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Deviation is
found on a placard in the plane (often on the
compass)
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9 - Complete
the right side of your Navlog
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Enter Airport
Information
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Enter Important
notes:
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Check Points
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Ground Based
Navigation
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Airport Diagram
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Pattern Entries
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Fold the Navlog
properly and put in on your kneeboard
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Summary of
Key Concepts:
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Course - intended
path of an aircraft over the ground
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Heading - direction
in which the nose of the aircraft points to
maintain the course
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Track - actual
path made over the ground in flight
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Drift angle -
angle between heading and track
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WCA - correction
applied to the course to establish a heading
so that track coincides with course
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Airspeed (TAS)
- rate of the aircraft’s progress through
the air.
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Ground Speed
(GS) - rate of the aircraft’s progress
over the ground
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Both of the following
formulas are acceptable depending on the Flight
Computer/System you are using.
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Our Navlog conforms
more to the first formula, and so does the ASA
E6B.
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TC ± V
= MC ± WCA = MH ± D = CH
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TC ± WCA
= TH ± V = MH ± D = CH
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Planning is based
on what we believe will occur - It may be incorrect!
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Adjustments and
calculations may need to be made in flight.
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Navigation should
always be done from the chart to the landmarks
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This means look
at your chart first and then at the ground for
your landmark
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If done the other
way around you could find yourself staring at
your map looking for a landmark that may not
be charted
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Expected services
available at an airport may not always be available.
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You should call
FBOs ahead of departures
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Cockpit Management
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- have your sectional
folded properly
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- note time of
takeoff for fuel planning
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