Mission Aircrew CourseChapter 8: Navigation and Position Determination(Feb 2005)

Aircrew TasksO-0204 LOCATE A POINT ON A MAP USING LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE (S)O-0205 LOCATE A POINT ON A MAP USING THE CAP GRID SYSTEM (S)O-2003 GRID SECTIONAL CHARTS (P)O-2011 OPERATE THE VOR AND DME (O)O-2012 OPERATE THE GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (O)O-2013 PLOT A ROUTE ON A SECTIONAL CHART (O)O-2024 DEMONSTRATE USE OF SECTIONAL CHARTS (S)O-2025 TRACK AND RECORD POSITION ON SECTIONALS AND MAPS (S)P-2012 IDENTIFY CONTROLLED AND SPECIAL USE AIRSPACES ON A SECTIONAL (O)

ObjectivesDiscuss considerations for operating near controlled airports, and identify them on a sectional. {O; 8.4}Discuss the following special use airspaces, and identify them on a sectional:Prohibited and Restricted Areas {O; 8.4.1}Military operating areas and training routes {O; 8.4.2}Discuss the use and limitations of the following:ADF {O; 8.1}VOR {O; 8.2}DME {O; 8.3}GPS {O; 8.5}

Objectives (Cont)Given a sectional chart, a plotter, and two airports: {O; 8.8.1}Plot the courseIdentify check points along the routeCalculate how long it should take to get from one airport to the other, flying at 100 kts with no windGiven Attachment E of the U.S. National SAR Supplement to the International Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Manual, grid a sectional. {O & P; 8.10.1 and Attachment 1}Given coordinates and a sectional, use the Standardized Latitude and Longitude Gird System to draw a search grid. {O & P; 8.11}

ObjectivesDefine the following navigation terms: {S; 8.1}Course, heading and ground trackNautical mile and knotLatitude and LongitudeGiven a map or sectional: identify an object given its latitude and longitude; and given a position determine its latitude and longitude. {S; 8.2.3}Given a sectional chart, locate and discuss: {S; 8.6}Physical features such as topographical detailsTowns and citiesHighways and roadsTowers; determine height in both MSL and AGLAirways and radio aids to navigationAirports and airport data

Objectives (Cont)Given a sectional chart, discuss the information found in the Legend. {S; 8.6}Given a sectional chart, locate Maximum Elevation Figures and state their meaning. {S; 8.7.2}Given a sectional chart, a plotter, and two points on the chart: {S; 8.8}Determine the cardinal headingDetermine the distance between the two points (nautical and statute miles)Given data from navaids, track the current position of an aircraft and determine the position of a ground feature (sectional and map). {S; 8.9} State the size of a full and a one-quarter standardized grid. {S; 8.10}

Objectives (Cont)Given Attachment E of the U.S. National SAR Supplement to the International Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Manual, grid a sectional. {O & P; 8.10.1 and Attachment 1}Given coordinates and a sectional, use the Standardized Latitude and Longitude Gird System to draw a search grid. {O & P; 8.11}

Navigation TermsCourse - planned or actual path of the aircraft over the groundTrue courseMagnetic courseHeading - direction the aircraft is pointingGround track actual path of the aircraft over the groundNautical mile (nm) - measurement used in air navigationKnots (kts) - nautical miles per hour

Locating a PositionUse a system of imaginary linesSome run north and south (latitude)Others run east and west (longitude)Where they cross defines a point on the earthBy convention, latitude is stated first

LatitudeLines of latitude run east and westLatitude starts with 0at the equatorLatitude increases to 90north at the North Pole and 90south at the South PoleGreat Circle and Lesser CirclesNorth LatitudesSouth LatitudesEquator

LongitudeLongitude has to start someplaceSo 0 is in Greenwich EnglandEast and west longitude increase as you move away from the Prime MeridianEast LongitudeWest LongitudePrime Meridian

LongitudeGreenwich (Prime) Meridian is zero degrees longitude on one side of the earth East and west longitude increase until they meet at 180 on the other side of the earthAll line of longitude are great circles (same length)

QUESTIONS?

Legend

Legend

Sectional

Airports

Airspace

Navaids

MEFs

Sectional Aeronautical Charts1 to 500,000Medium to slow speed aircraftTypes of Information: Legend, Aeronautical, Topographical

Sectional

Restricted Area

Military Training Routes

BAK North

BAK South

MOA

Position DeterminationSectional or MapWork from larger to smallerWork from a known location to present locationWatch the scale on mapsRemain suspicious if all points dont seem to line up rightUse groups of 3 characteristics to verify position

Tracking & Recording PositionMaintain positional awareness from takeoff to landingFinger on the map method using visual landmarksAsk the pilot or observer to determine position using GPS and/or VOR/DMEOnce you locate a downed aircraft or determines the location of a breech in the levy, you must be able to pinpoint the location on the sectional and report that position to others. Since the details on the sectional chart are often not detailed enough to be useful to ground units, you have to transfer that information to a map (e.g., road or topographical).Knowing the aircraft's position at all times is essential if an in-flight emergency should occur. Equipment malfunctions, an electrical fire, or a medical emergency can necessitate landing at the nearest airport: if you don't know where you are, how can you find the nearest airfield?

AtObstacles and Other DangersTALL TOWERS

AtObstacles and Other DangersGUY WIRES

AtObstacles and Other DangersPOWER LINES

AtObstacles and Other DangersLOW-FLYING, HEAVY AIRCRAFT

CAP Standard Grid SystemOverlays standard sectional mapsSubdivides the map into distinct working areasEach grid is 1/4 (15 minutes) of latitude by 1/4 of longitude and is assigned a numberGrids are further divided into sub-grids labeled A, B, C, and DEach sectional has a standard for assigning grid numbers for areas of overlap the grid number of the most westerly chart is used

CAP Conventional Grid SystemEach grid on the sectional is assigned a numberIn this example, the grid depicted is on the St Louis SectionalSTL 159Grids are subdivided into smaller sectionsLetters are used to define sub-grids102-15 W102 15 W102-00 W102-00 W36-00 N36-15 NABCDSTL 159A36-07.5 N102-07.5 W

Cell Grid SystemCan be used on any kind of chart that has lines of lat/long1 blocks identified by the intersection of whole numbers of lat/long, such as 36-00N and 102-00W Points are designated with the latitude first (36 /102) and they identify the area north and west of the intersection of these two linesGrids can be subdivided into smaller sectionsLetters are used to define sub-grids

36-00N

37-00N

30'

103-00W

102-00W

30'

B

C

D

AA

AC

AD

AB

45'

45'

Marking Grid ChartsYou can use a new sectional normally not updated unless it gets worn outUse a Hi-Lighter (not pink) to mark grid boundaries on the chart using a long rulerMark grid identification in black ink for easy visibilityYou should always keep a current sectional with you even if you have a sectional which is marked with grids

QUESTIONS?

Electronic Aids to NavigationAutomatic direction finder (ADF)Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR)Distance Measuring Equipment (DME)Long Range Navigation (LORAN)Global Positioning System (GPS)

ADFAutomatic Direction Finding

Oldest systemFair accuracyLow costHoming onlyNeedle always pointstoward the stationAircraftheadedNorth

Using ADF to determine positionAutomatic Direction Finding

ADFOldest systemFair accuracyLow costHoming only

VORVery High Frequency Omnidirectional Ranging

VOR

Very commonMost air routes defined by VORsGood AccuracyVOR provides heading andcourse deviation indicationRadial

VOR

VOR

Using the VOR to determine positionTurn the OBS knob until the needle centers with a FROM flagRead the bearing from the station directly at the topPlot the bearing on the chart

Keeping Track of Position

DMEDistance Measuring EquipmentTACAN or VORTACVery Accurate when flying directly towardsSlant rangeGround Range

DME

LORANLow Frequency Omnidirectional Radio Aided NavigationAccurateAircraft & ShipsSusceptible to precipitation; western coverage spotty

GPSGlobal Positioning System24 SatellitesGPS receiverVery accurate

Know Your Chart Symbols

QUESTIONS?

8.1Objective 8.1 Define the following navigation terms: course, heading and ground track; nautical mile and knot; latitude and longitude.Nautical mile: 6076 feetStatute mile: 5280 feetdifference: 796 feet

To convert nautical miles to statute miles, multiply nautical miles by 1.15. Sameo for knots to mph (going 100 knots = 115 mph)Points are defined as x degrees of latitude and y degrees of longitude.The Equator is a Great Circle and all other lines of latitude are lesser circles.The Prime Meridian is a Great Circle and all other lines of longitude are lesser circles.8.2.3Objective 8.2 Given a map or sectional: identify an object given its latitude and longitude; given a position determine its latitude and longitude.8.6Objective 8.7 Given a sectional chart, discuss the information found in the Legend.Top half of the legendCover the various airport symbols and the airport data information.Cover the radio aids to navigation and communication boxes.Airport traffic service and airspace informationBack of the legendClass B, Class C, TSRA and selected approach control frequencies (shown)Special Use Airspace (shown)MOA information (shown)Control Tower frequencies (not shown)8.6Objective 8.6 Given a sectional chart, locate and discuss the following: physical features such as topographical details; towns and cities; highways and roads; towers (determine height in MSL and AGL; airways and radio aids to navigation; airports and airport data.Objective 8.8 Given a sectional chart, locate Maximum Elevation Figures and state their meaning.8.10.1Objective 8.13 Given Attachment E of the U.S. National SAR Supplement to the International Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Manual, grid a sectional.Expired gridded charts may be used only for reference or training purposes (gridding). Label them For Training Purposes OnlyPoint out local airports, restricted area, and military training routes8.4Objective 8.3 Discuss considerations for operating near controlled airports, and identify them on a sectional.8.4.1 & 8.4.2Objective 8.4 Discuss the following SUA, and identify them on a sectional: prohibited and restricted areas; military operating areas and training routes.Local airports, restricted area and military training routes.Obstructions/towers: Top number is the MSL altitude where you will hit the obstruction, the bottom number is how far youll fall.Discuss flight planning for and operating in a MOA. Emphasize that military pilots arent listening to you and arent looking for you, and theyre moving fast.8.8Objective 8.9 Given a sectional chart, a plotter, and two points on the chart: determine the heading; determine the distance between the points (nautical and statute miles).Pilotage is using primarily VISUAL REFERENCES or landmarks along with some computations of time, speed, heading, and wind.Dead Reckoning is navigation using ONLY time, heading, wind and airspeed. No visual references are used.8.9Objective 8.11 Given data from navaids, track the current position of an aircraft and determine the position of a ground feature (sectional and map). The alternating red and white sections do not indicate height!Guy wires may extend outward over 1,000 ft.Only a couple of charts in the US have overlaps. Where charts overlap, the grids on all charts will be assigned the number and identifier of the primary chart (the most westerly chart will be designated as the primary chart). Overlapping chart grids will use the identifier of the primary chart (e.g. MKC for Kansas City) and the grid number.8.10.1Objective 8.12 State the size of a full and a one-quarter standardized grid.The first full 15-minute quadrangle in the northwest corner of the chart is numbered One and numbered in sequence from west to east. Continue in this manner until reaching the southeast corner of the gridded area which serves as the last full 15 minute quadrangle.Alternate system to CAP Grid System.You can make a master grid chart and then mark up your current navigation chart with selected grids as needed.Red or pink marks on your charts will not be visible at night when the red light is the only light on. Use a green flashlight to see most colors.8.5Objective 8.5 Discuss the uses and limitations of the following navaids: ADF, VOR, DME and GPS.These systems help you determine and keep track of your position situational awareness is everyones job.Basically a homing station. Indicates direction of the station being received relative to the heading of the aircraft.ADF is a receiver in the aircraft which picks up the NDB (non-directional beacon) signal located on the ground.

If you just follow the signal it will get you there (though not necessarily in a straight line)VOR is a ground transmitter that provides 360 radials aligned to magnetic north. Does not provide distance. Victor airways are built around VORs.Without GPS pilots will often fly from VOR to VOR.When tracing the route of a missing aircraft, search airplane may initially fly the same route as the missing plane.

Radials are always given as FROM a VOR (intercept the 270 degree radial).DME determines range to a station. Distance is read in nautical miles.Only accurate when flying directly towards and within about 20 nm.Due to slant range error, readout is not accurate at close range. Rule of thumb is that DME reading is significantly different from the ground range when it reads fewer miles than the altitude of the aircraft in thousands of feet. In other words, at 8,000 feet, DME ground range will be very different from the slant range below 8 miles.DME can be co-located with a VOR. (VOR/DME -- VORTAC)TACAN - is a combination of DME and azimuth (azimuth used by military).VORTAC -VOR and TACAN that is co-located (civilians use the VOR for azimuth and the DME portion of the TACAN.

1/4 mile accuracy.Time/distance calculation among one Master and at least 2 slave stations are used to determine position.Low frequency wavelength gives long range receptionLORAN may not be used much longer because of GPS; plans are to keep in the foreseeable future.Polar orbits.Built by the Department of Defense.Uses at least 3 satellites at a time.