This is a unique course developed for those who wish to undertake more challenging cross-country flights and boost their confidence in navigation. The course includes the following topics:
- A re-cap of traditional navigation methods including ‘dead-reckoning’ and radio navigation methods
- Some practical short cuts and tips for re-gaining track, diversions and weather avoidance which are simpler than the text-book methods
- More advanced use of radio nav-aids
- Different modes of GPS navigation
- Contingency planning for GPS failure
- Navigating close to and through controlled airspace, using 3 different methods: GPS, VOR radial ‘fences’ and visual anchor points
- RT technique for controlled airspace, to maximise your chance of getting your requested zone transit
The course is typically 6-8 hours of briefings, part of which can be self-study, with 2-3 navigation flights of 1 to 1.5 hours each. The flight routes can be tailored to the pilot’s future requirements.
VFR PLOG’s
One of the keys to successful navigation is to have a well laid-out PLOG. Our PLOG’s include a number of best practice elements:
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- Clear layout with ample space for notes
- Planning calculations concealed during flight for clarity and to avoid confusion
- No need to transcribe information from one part of the sheet to another (hence avoiding errors)
- Record of MSA (minimum safe altitude), Planned altitude and max altitude (to avoid infringing controlled airspace)
- Room to make notes in flight
- Fuel use tracking
- Room to record clearance adjacent to the corresponding radio frequency
- A journey log section to comply with EASA requirements to record crew names, call-sign, times etc.
We offer two tools to help. The Integrated VFR planner, contains all the planning calculations and an Operational PLOG, plus forecast weather, a fuel plan, weight and balance and take-off / landing performance.
Integrated-VFR-planner-v2
For situations where a W&B, and take-off performance calculations are not required or are done in another way, the simpler VFR PLOG just contains planning calculations, an Operational PLOG / Journey Log, plus forecast weather and a fuel plan.
VFR-PLOG