factors that you must consider when using pilotage to determine your course heading

by Carolyne D'Amore 6 min read

What is true course and true heading?

1) True Course (TC): This is the course measured from your navigation plotter when you plot your flight on your map. Remember that because of the projection of the map, it is best to read this course in the middle of the leg. 2) True Heading (TH): Now that you have a true course, we need to correct for winds which will give us a true heading.

How to determine the true heading of a plane?

You can use a E6B or similar flight computer and forecast winds aloft to correct your true course to determine a true heading. To answer your other question, Forecast Winds and Temperature Aloft charts (FD) are given in reference to true north.

What should you consider when planning a flight?

You should plan out the entirety of the flight, including the departure and arrival, the route, alternate airports, waypoints, fuel, weather, and other factors before you climb into the cockpit so that you’re prepared to deal with any situation that might arise during the flight. Is your departure airport suitable for takeoff?

Do you have a pilotage plan for your yacht?

Ensure you have a detailed pilotage plan with the bearing and distance to the next mark from each known position. The aim is to keep the navigator about 10 minutes ahead of the yacht rather than 10 minutes behind. Also, having a plan in hand means that you won’t have to run up and down to check the chart all the time.

What is pilotage and how is it used?

Piloting or pilotage is the process of navigating on water or in the air using fixed points of reference on the sea or on land, usually with reference to a nautical chart or aeronautical chart to obtain a fix of the position of the vessel or aircraft with respect to a desired course or location.

When calculating your magnetic heading what must be taken into consideration?

However, flying this course off the magnetic compass would not provide an accurate course between the two points due to three elements that must be considered. The first is magnetic variation, the second is compass deviation, and the third is wind correction. All three must be considered for accurate navigation.

What are the advantages of pilotage over dead reckoning?

What are the advantages of pilotage over dead reckoning? Positions are found by direct observation of visual landmarks. It is the simplest form of navigation, requires no equipment other than a chart and a pencil, and is immune from mechanical failures or breakdowns.

What are examples of two ways to effectively use checklists to manage workload?

What are examples of two ways to use checklists effectively to manage workload? by visual landmarks using course lines. You will be using pilotage to determine your course.

How do you calculate course headings?

1:063:48How to Calculate Magnetic Heading with Wind Correction Angle FormulaYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo just make sure you get your signs right so if your wing correction angle is negative 5 and yourMoreSo just make sure you get your signs right so if your wing correction angle is negative 5 and your magnetic course is 60. This is gonna be 60 plus a negative 5 okay.

How is magnetic course determined?

2:544:43How to Calculate Magnetic Course - For Student Pilots - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThat's going to be true course plus a negative magnetic variation in other words it's going to beMoreThat's going to be true course plus a negative magnetic variation in other words it's going to be true course minus eleven point seven five minus 12 minus 12 point two five.

What are you required to do when using pilotage skills to navigate?

2:548:52Pilotage and Dead Reckoning - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAllow you to wander off course. If you are flying strictly by pilotage you should be able to see theMoreAllow you to wander off course. If you are flying strictly by pilotage you should be able to see the next checkpoint from the one preceding it.

What is the meaning of pilotage?

Definition of pilotage 1 : the action or business of piloting. 2 : the compensation paid to a licensed ship's pilot.

How do you determine magnetic heading in air navigation?

To get the true heading, you need to first read the magnetic compass, then either add an Easterly, or subtract a Westerly, magnetic variation; based on the isogonic lines. When converting true to magnetic heading, you'd do the opposite and subtract an Easterly, or add a Westerly, magnetic variation.

What are the important techniques that will help you manage your time more efficiently?

Easy time-management tipsWork out your goals. "Work out who you want to be, your priorities in life, and what you want to achieve in your career or personal life," says Emma. ... Make a list. To-do lists are a good way to stay organised. ... Focus on results. ... Have a lunch break. ... Prioritise important tasks. ... Practise the '4 Ds'

Why are checklists important in the workplace?

It helps people stay more organized, assuring them they will not skip any important step in the process. A checklist motivates us to take action and complete tasks. Small wins and the goal-gradient effect encourage us to reach our goals. Checklists help us move quickly, be more efficient, and save time.

What should a checklist contain?

A typical checklist should have the following items:Give a name to your checklist. The name of the checklist represents the purpose and use of creating it.Date / Date range. ... Add tasks in your checklist. ... Continue repeating for every task.

Is your departure airport suitable for takeoff?

First things first. Is your aircraft even able to take off from where you landed it?

How To Select Your Destination

You have a general idea of where you intend to go. But you need to consider some factors to see if you can actually make it to your intended destination safely.

How To Determine Your Route

The aircraft and the pilot need to be capable and licensed to fly the planned route.

How To Plan Your Navigation

There are two basic techniques that are useful for navigation on a cross-country flight. These techniques are pilotage and dead reckoning. You’re not bound to just use one or the other, you can use a combination of both to cross-check your location.

Filing a Flight Plan

You’re not required to file a flight plan if you’re flying VFR, but it’s highly recommended that you do file one. A filed flight plan has information that search and rescue services can use to reach you in case of an emergency.

Conclusion

There’s a lot that goes into flying an airplane. You should try to prepare as much as possible before the flight so that you have a plan in case something goes wrong.

Why do airplanes have to be flown within the weight and balance limits?

An airplane must only be flown within certificated limits of weight and balance to ensure that it remains controllable, performs adequately and is not overstressed.

What is the opening angle of a track?

The opening angle of track is the angle between your position and your track using your 10° drift line from your point of departure.

How to estimate track error?

Estimate track error by using your drift line from the Set Heading Point.

What is the patch of an aircraft?

The patch the aircraft follows over the ground relative to the magnetic north. The direction of the aircraft is pointing relative to the true north. The direction of the aircraft is pointing relative to the magnetic north. ( It’s this heading that you follow during your navigation ).

Do you need to interpolate if your pressure altitude is not even 1000 feet?

You may need to interpolate between the number if your pressure altitudes are not even 1000’s feet.

Why do you line up adjacent charts?

Lining up adjacent charts precisely so that the latitude and longitude lines near the edges of each chart match

What does it mean to notify FSS of your plans for flight?

To notify an FSS of your plans for flight so that the FSS will initiate a search for you if you are overdue

Is it easier to navigate an airport?

It is typically easier to navigate to an airport using GPS or an on the field VOR or NDB facility, rather than plotting a course on a sectional chart and marking checkpoints and distances, and

What do you need for a pilotage plan?

You’ll need a plastic bag for your pilotage plan, a hand bearing compass so you know where you’re headed and binoculars to identify the next mark

What is the difficulty of pilotage?

The difficulty with pilotage is relating the information on the chart to the real world. On the chart, navigational features such as buoys are very obvious and so are their light characteristics, but at night against a background of streetlights they can be extremely difficult to find.

What is a good deal of pilotage?

While a good deal of pilotage is technique, discipline and the occasional sum, there are a few items of kit without which you’ll struggle. Unless you’re a straight-line day-sailer the chances are you’ll already have this kit aboard but if you don’t, or it’s in such a state that it’s no longer serviceable, you really should get yourself to a chandler and spend some money.

What do pilot books tell you?

Most are a good read, too. The pilot book coupled with the almanac will tell you about hazards on the way in that awkward sandbank near the fuel dock, where to moor, the cost, the best place to eat and more, including pictures. These aeren’t facts you want to pick up by trial and error. The books are money well spent and give information you cannot obtain any other way.

Where to stay when piloting a yacht?

If you can, stay out of shipping lanes and channels. The safest place to be is shallow water, where ships can’t get you, even in fog, and ideally to windward to avoid grounding on a lee shore. Piloting a yacht is hard enough without being confronted by a supertanker.

Can a skipper make a pilotage error?

I have yet to meet an experienced skipper – recreational or professional – who has never made a pilotage error. Usually these are pretty minor but each one gives you a slight knot in the stomach with the thought of what might have happened. You can practise boat handling and other techniques until you are so smoothly proficient it becomes second nature, but if you are arriving in a new harbour you must prepare carefully. What you expect to see from looking at the chart isn’t always what you get.

Do navigators drift off the intended track?

Even the best navigators sometimes drift off the intended track. Knowing the rough depth along your intended path – something you can write into a pilotage plan – means that you are more likely to notice the minute you go off course.

What is the total heading correction to converge?

Our total heading correction to converge would be 6° + 3° = 9°.

What would a 6° heading change allow us to do?

So at this point a 6° heading change would allow us to parallel our intended course. To find the distance to converge back on course we will need to complete the second part of the problem.

How to calculate distance remaining?

Distance Remaining = 80 miles. Step 1: Take our distance off course of 4 miles and multiply by 60 (4 x 60 = 240). Step 2: Divide 240 from step one by distance flown of 40 miles (240 / 40 = 6° ). So at this point a 6° heading change would allow us to parallel our intended course.

What should training be tailored to?

Training should be tailored to the specific needs of your workplace and anything that may pose a health and safety risk to your workers must be addressed.

How to prepare for a training session?

Looking at the following factors will help you to determine how you need to put together the training session: 1 The type of work being carried out; 2 The nature of the risks associated with the work; 3 What control measures are in place at the workplace; 4 The qualifications and experience of the worker; 5 The work environment, e.g. what other hazards exist in the workplace; 6 The equipment and materials necessary to undertake the training; and 7 The period of time before a refresher course will be needed.

Who should provide training for employees?

In most cases, competent officers, supervisors or managers within your business can provide workplace training.

When should refresher training be carried out?

Refresher training should be carried out when a change is made or a policy revised. When you are putting together a program to train your workers, you need to consider any factors that may affect the decisions you make around the training.