Print this page Aero Navigation - Part 10 Through 35 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 2 part 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; & often to perform the Aero Nav of planes;
- To understand how to establish the position of an aircraft in flight by use of most of the 35 Aero Nav systems;
- Learn the exceptional complexity of the revolutionary still undergoing a few of the many projected RNP implementations;
- Understand some exciting new applications of modern computers;
- Learn how complex the integration of hundreds of flights is for ATC & Aero Navigators;
- Learn some unique Engineering developments involved in improving & performing Aero Nav;
- 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 function of the AG during IFR flight;
- Learn the differences between the low frequency range & the VOR for off-airway travel;
- Learn the differences & similarities of the low frequency range & the VOR for airway travel;
- Understand the benefits of the VOR vs. the ADF in IFR cruising flight;
- Learn the unique application of Doppler Radar in airborne navigation;
- Understand the benefits of the VOR vs. the ADF during instrument approaches;
- Learn the advanced computer aided celestial navigation in the form of an enormous improvement over even the advanced Astrotracker;
- Learn the differences between the GPS & the VOR during instrument approaches;
- Learn the differences & similarities of the low frequency range & the GPS for airway travel;
- 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;
- Understand the benefits of the ADF vs. the VOR in IFR cruising flight;
- Learn the involvement of Engineering in development of celestial navigation;
- Compute W/V (wind speed & direction) based on time of passage between 1 fixes by use of the Running Fix;
- Understand the benefits of the ADF vs. the VOR in instrument approaches;
- Learn to select optimum altitude during preflight based on a winds aloft report;
- Learn how to execute an instrument approach by use of the ILS;
- Learn the specifics of correction for known wind while navigating a plane by ADF; tracking an NDB;
- Learn how to execute an instrument approach by use of the VOR;
- Understand the benefits of the VOR vs. the ADF in instrument approaches;
- Learn to determine the wind velocity while navigating by use of the GPS;
- Learn methods of measuring distance of a checkpoint to the side of a plane by use of Radar;
- Learn how to execute an instrument approach by use of GPS;
- Learn methods of establishing a fix by use of Radar;
- Learn ancillary features of the aviation GPS;
- Learn the difference between LORAN-A & LORAN-C;
- Learn how to interpret the appearance of mountains shown on a map vs. Radar;
- Learn difference between using Radar at night vs. during the daytime;
- Learn how to execute an instrument approach by use of RNAV;
- Learn the theory of LORAN;
- Learn how to determine True North using an AstroCompass;
- Learn difference between map reading by Radar vs. visually;
- Learn the difference between map reading by Radar vs. by celestial;
- Compute W/V (wind speed & direction) based on time of passage between 2 lateral lines on a driftmeter grid;
- Learn how to interpret the appearance of bodies of water that is shown on a map vs. Radar;
- Learn how to interpret the appearance of buildings shown on a map vs. Radar;
- Learn how to reduce flight time by taking advantage of the pressure systems;
- Learn how to determine CH from MH during flight; and
- Learn how to execute an instrument approach by use of the RNP.
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 10 Through 35 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
applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.
Course Summary
Provides details on 35 different Aero Navigation systems.
Very 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.
