INSTRUMENT GROUND SCHOOL CLASS?!?

From the Right Seat by Peter Rafle

VOR navigation is slated for eventual removal from the system. Fro now, it is still up and active.  Most aircraft have a VOR receiver and many pilots still rely on VOR stations for cross country navigation.

Once the station is tuned and identified by its voice or Morse code signal, the pilots turns the OBS knob until the To/From flag indicates TO and, the vertical needle is centered. The airplane is then turned to the heading at the top of the OBS to track to the station.

If the pilot wants to intercept a radial from a VOR,

1. Turn to a heading to parallel the desired course, in the same direction to be flown

2. Determine the difference between the radial to be intercepted and the radial on which you are located.

3. Double the difference to determine the intercept angle, which will be at least 20° but   less than 90°.

4. Rotate the OBS to the desired radial or inbound course.

5. Turn to the interception heading

6. Hold this heading constant until the CDI centers, which indicates the aircraft is on course

7. Turn to the MH corresponding to the selected course, adding any necessary wind correction to maintain the needle in the center.

Refer to the Instrument Flying Handbook  FAA-H-8083-15 for more description of the VOR functions and procedures

OFF TO BOLIVIA

CHECK THE PROCESS

When planning for a cross country flight, a pilot will obtain a standard weather briefing which will include the forecast winds at the enroute altitude.  Using these forecast winds, the pilot, using his E6B, will calculate his ground speed along the route of flight.

Once airborne those forecast winds may or may not agree with the reality of the strength of the in-flight winds.  Keeping track of the actual groundspeed by measuring the time between checkpoints is essential.  GPS equipped pilots have an instantaneous report of ground speed.  Regardless of how you determine ground speed, you need to evaluate your time to destination and the fuel burn based on the real ground speed.  If you are slower than planned, you may need to land for fuel short of your planned destination. 

Keep your reserve fuel requirements in mind and think about fuel stops before an emergency develops.