Course
A predetermined path from one point to another (drawn on a sectional chart)
True Course
The course referenced to true north
Magnetic Course
The course referenced to magnetic north
Variation
The difference between true north and magnetic north
Heading
The direction the nose of the aircraft is pointed. (A course with the wind correction applied)
True heading
A true course with the wind correction applied
Magnetic heading
A magnetic course with the wind correction applied
Wind correction angle
Angle in which the aircraft must be pointed to achieve zero drift
Deviation
Read off the compass correction card, the compensation factor for small errors in the compass caused by electromagnetic fields in the aircraft.
Pilotage
Navigation by reference to outside landmarks
Dead Reckoning
Navigation by using the numbers
Radio Navigation
Use of Radio Aids for navigation
Fix
Made when two lines of Position cross
Can be also a radial and a distance
Points of Latitude and Longitude
Latitude and Longitude
Longitude – lines from pole to pole
Latitude – lines parallel to the equator also known as parallels
1 degree of latitude is 1 NM
The Prime Meridian
The prime meridian is the first line of Longitude that runs through Greenwich England
Everything is measured East or West of the Prime Meridian
Equator
The Equator is the first line of Latitude
Everything is measured North or South of the Equator
Great and Small Circles
Circles whose planes run through the center of the Earth
This represents the shortest distance between 2 points
Scales
VFR Terminal Area charts are 1:250,000 or about 4 SM to the inch
Sectionals are 1:500,000 or about 8 SM to the inch
World Aeronautical Charts are 1:1,000,000 or about 16 SM to the inch
Review
TC
+- WCA
TH
+- VAR
MH
+- DEV
CH
Plotting a Course
Take out sectional and plotter
Plot a course from MWH to Davenport