Lesson 7.0 Navigation & Flight Planning

Lesson 7.0 – Navigation & Flight Planning

(Lesson Overview Page)

In previous units we covered how the airplane flies, how its systems work, the rules we operate under, airports and airspace, and weather. Now we put it all together and learn how to navigate and plan a cross-country flight.

Good navigation and careful flight planning are essential skills for every private pilot. These topics appear heavily on both the knowledge test and the practical test.

Work through these sub-lessons in order. Practice the calculations and chart reading until they feel comfortable.

In these sub-lessons you will learn:

• 7.1 Pilotage & Dead Reckoning Navigating by visual reference to landmarks and by time/speed/distance calculations

• 7.2 VOR Navigation Basics How to use VOR stations for orientation and navigation

• 7.3 GPS & Modern Navigation GPS fundamentals and practical use for VFR navigation

• 7.4 Flight Planning & Performance Calculations Weight and balance, takeoff and landing distances, fuel planning, and true airspeed calculations

• 7.5 Charts, Route Selection & Flight Plan Filing Choosing a route, using sectional charts for planning, and filing a VFR flight plan

Master these skills and you will be ready to plan and safely fly cross-country flights.