Print this page Aero Navigation - Part 1 Through 9 of 35
Ed Yung, PE & Pilot
Course Outline
A course for Registered Professional Engineers to inform them on the very diverse, highly technical field of Aero Navigation.
Although Engineers are largely responsible for development of concepts, procedures, devices & instruments for most of an enormous variety of Aero Navigation systems, few Engineers are aware of either the variety or the number of concepts involved. In fact, only a minority of professional pilots are aware of more than 5 or 10 Aero Nav systems.
This course is intended to inform Engineers on background, concepts, theory, accuracy, & diversity of optical, mechanical & electrical instruments involved.
The course includes
a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding
of the course materials.
This course offers a general introduction as opposed to a functional, complete education on some of the more complex systems. The goal of this course is to inform PEs on the theory & application of 35 distinctly different Aero Navigation systems. Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- The goal of this course is to inform PEs on the theory & application of 35 distinctly different Aero Navigation systems;
- To learn enough to understand theory & application of each Aero Navigation system to be able to select optimum equipment or instruments for each;
- To be able to establish position of an aircraft in flight by use of some of the 35 Aero Nav systems;
- Understand the relationship of the temperature & pressure to TAS (true airspeed) vs. IAS (indicated airspeed), & be able to compute either from the other;
- Learn the specifics of the use of dead reckoning to apply wind correction in preparation for a flight;
- Understand the similarity & differences between an Engineering rotary slide rule & the arithmetic side of the E-6B (manual rotary slide rule with unique extra features, with wind vector computation on opposite side);
- Learn the specifics of wind correction while navigating a plane by use of map reading;
- Understand the methods of determining drift by monitoring the ADF (automatic direction finder) pointer during cruise flight.
- Learn the specifics of correction for unknown wind while navigating a plane by ADF; tracking an NDB (non directional beacon);
- Understand the impact of altitude upon TAS;
- Differences & similarities of the wind side of the E-6B & an ACAD or hand drawn wind vector;
- Learn the subtle details of map reading techniques;
- Understand the influence of terrain elevation upon absolute altitude & different Aero Nav systems;
- Learn to preflight for a flight with forecast winds at flight altitude;
- Be able to explain the components of the magnetic influences of the earth;
- Learn the specifics of wind correction while flying using dead reckoning;
- To enlighten Engineers on the technical & practical aspects of a surprisingly large number of Aerial Navigation systems, methods, & tools;
- An Aero Navigator must understand aircraft performance, & the specific impact of the atmosphere on aircraft performance. This relationship is discussed in detail throughout this PDH-Aero Navigation course;
- Learn the extent of Engineering involvement in Aero Navigation;
- To be able to describe to another Engineer the details of any Aero Nav system of interest;
- To be able to determine aircraft GS (ground speed) at any point during a flight by use of map reading;
- Learn the involvement of Engineering in development of celestial navigation;
- Compute W/V (wind speed & direction) based on time of passage between 2 fixes that are located a 1 hour flight apart, given drift angle;
- Understand the influences of magnetic disturbances within the aircraft;
- Learn to select optimum altitude during preflight based on a winds aloft report;
- Learn the specifics of correction for unknown wind while navigating a plane by use of map reading;
- Learn the specifics of correction for known wind while navigating a plane by ADF; tracking an NDB;
- Learn how to compute TAS in flight;
- Learn how to use a sextant to establish a circle of equal altitude;
- Learn to determine the wind velocity while navigating by use of the ADF;
- Learn methods of estimating distance of a checkpoint to the side of a plane while map reading;
- Determine how to establish the LHA (local hour angle) in preparation for shooting a 3 star fix;
- Learn how to establish a 3 star fix by use of a sextant;
- Learn how to determine the altitude of the sun by use of an AstroCompass;
- Determine MC (magnetic course) for a flight during the preflight;
- Learn methods of correcting a DR (dead reckoning) position in flight by use of a radio;
- Learn how to correct a DR position in flight by using map reading;
- Determine how to advance a LOP to the time of the final LOP;
- Learn how to estimate distance of a checkpoint ahead of a plane while map reading;
- Learn how to determine True North using an AstroCompass;
- Learn how to measure TC (true course) using a Weems plotter;
- Learn how to establish the altitude of a star by use of an AstroCompass;
- Determine how to correct MH (magnetic heading) to CH (compass heading);
- Learn the comparative benefits of LF vs. VHF radio frequency bands for Aero Navigation applications;
- Learn the difference between the nominal Lambert projection & the Sectional chart;
- Understand how to correct for magnetic variation during a preflight; and
- Learn how to determine CH from MH during flight.
Intended Audience
Any PE, in particular.
Any flying enthusiast or would-be pilot.
Any pilot (very few USAF or airline pilots are familiar with more than 10 of the Aero Nav systems in this course).
Basic background & concepts for any educator who may be interested in teaching a course on Aero Nav systems, or even nautical navigation.
Benefit to Attendees
Broaden knowledge base including many complex Aero Navigation systems, & the associated instrumentation & avionics.
Course Introduction
This introduction contains a wealth of preliminary info that is necessary for a basic understanding of all 35 Navigation systems in this series; most of which are Aero Navigation systems.
It describes history, basic concepts, theory, accuracy, equipment required, operational techniques & methods, some cost information, & accuracy of 35 different Aero Navigation systems; including 3 non-Aero Nav systems; one of which is 5,000 years old. Some are extremely accurate; others have a large area of uncertainty. Some of the Aero Navigation systems could be described by one or more of the following terms:
Highly Technical
Ingenious
Difficult to Implement
Challenging
Very Simple
User Friendly
Extremely Important in 2009
Extremely Important in the Foreseeable
Future
State-of-the-Art
Advancing the State-of-the-Art
5,000 years old; precise
Very Old
Obsolete, but in use
Obsolete
Primitive;
Actually, portions of even the very old Aero Nav. systems are still in use in 2010.
It Illustrates in detail, or in some cases, in general, how Aero Navigation is performed using each existing Aero Navigation system. To enlighten Engineers on the technical & practical aspects of a surprisingly large number of Aerial Navigation systems, or methods & tools. In fact, 35 distinct Aero Navigation systems are discussed & described in this course. Aerial Navigation systems or methods include past, present, state-of-the -art, & anticipated advanced systems.
To provide sufficient background & considerable ancillary info to facilitate the learning process.
Aero Navigation is somewhat more elaborate & complex than navigating a car; or even a boat. It requires a working knowledge of at least a few Aero Navigation systems, as well as specifications & flight characteristics of the plane to be flown, & sufficient knowledge of the atmosphere to safely accomplish a flight. It involves some simple, & a variety of very complex computations, including forward & reverse wind vectors, celestial computations & measurements, the original LORAN, & some complex programming operations.
The author is a PE who is also a serious & very enthusiastic pilot holding most available FAA flying licenses & ratings, including that of Aero Navigator. He has enjoyed flying 45 types of planes including turbojet, turbo prop, glider, blimp, hot air balloon, amphibian, aerobatic biplanes, monoplanes; trigear, mono gear, & taildragger. His ability to smoothly & precisely land an airplane has been admired by many, including professional pilots; but very few envy some of his lesser flying skills or shortcomings.
Unsigned words of wisdom found on the internet: Remember that the science of Navigation can be taught, but the art of Navigation must be developed from experience.
Aero Navigation is like much of Engineering in that no 2 flights (projects) are exactly the same, & perfection is generally illusive.
Course Content
In this lesson, you are required to download and study the following course content:
Aero Navigation - Part 1 Through 9 of 35
Please click on
the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your
study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the
file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target
As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience
any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some
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Course Summary
Provides details on 35 different Aero Navigation systems.
Exceptionally few professional pilots or Aero Navigation teaching professionals have any knowledge of more than 10 of the 35 methods described in this course.
Includes background, theory, accuracy, cost & application.
Compares operational examples & comparison of rudimentary with more advanced methods of Aero Navigation.
Fully describes, with illustrations, the 60+ year old manual vector computer that still has no serious competitor.
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
