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Navigation Systems

Objective​

To understand how the navigation systems installed in our aircraft work and how to use them to navigate, also to understand radar services that are available to us.

Motivation​

Pilots rely on navigation systems to fly to unfamiliar locations, making it essential for cross-country flying. Understanding radar services provided by ATC is also important for safety and efficiency.

Timing​

1 hour

Format​

Elements​

  • Radio Navigation
    • Principle of Operation
      • VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR)
      • VOR in the Cockpit
      • Flavors of VORs
      • VOR Service Volumes
      • Updated VOR Service Volumes
      • Service Volumes on Chart Supplement
    • Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)
      • DME Slant Range
    • Non-Directional Beacons (NDB)
  • Using Radio Navigation
    • Tuning and Identifying Stations
    • Reading a CDI
    • Bearing vs Radial
    • Using a VOR - Simulation
    • Tracking a Radial
    • Intercepting a Radial
    • Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI)
    • EFIS-Displayed HSI
  • Area Navigation
    • Global Positioning System - GPS
    • Global Positioning System - GPS (cont.)
    • CDIs and GPS
  • Transponders
  • Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B)
  • Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs)
  • ATC and Radar Services
    • Air Traffic Control Radar
    • Radar Services
    • Flight Following Radio Calls

Questions​

  • You tune a VOR and ID the station, only to find there's no morse code being transmitted on the station's frequency.
    • What does this mean? What would you use instead?
  • The Olympia airport (KOLM) has a High power VOR that you plan to use in your flight plan. Your planning to cruise at 4500'.
    • Will you be able to reliably use the VOR signal from 100nm away? What about 50nm?
  • You're using VFR flight following, and they asked you to climb to 4500' for traffic. The cloud bases are around 4000'.
    • What would you do?

References​