1. AVAT11001: Course Outline Aircraft and Terminology
Radio Communications
Structure, Propulsion, Fuel Systems
Electrical, Hydraulic Systems and Instruments
Air Law
Aerodynamics: Basics
Aerodynamics: Performance
Human Factors
Meteorology
Loading
Take-off and Landing Performance
Navigation

2. Stuff to read Required Reading: BAK Chapter 12, pp. 355-374
VFG IN-FLIGHT, pp

3. Navigation
Navigation is the skill used to determine your location and plan your routes
This topic is covered more extensively in AVAT12002
This week we will introduce the basic concepts of navigation
Beginner pilots primarily use Visual Navigation
You determine your location by what you see
There are also a variety of instruments which can help you to navigate
These are called navigation aids, or navaids
4-D Navigation (latitude, longitude, altitude, time)
Sometimes people in the aviation industry speak about 4 dimensional navigation. This is when you account for not only where you plan on being (latitude, longitude, altitude), but also when you plan on being there (time).
Time is an important element of navigation

4. How fast am I going? Speed IAS, Indicated Airspeed TAS, True Airspeed
This is what you read off of the pressure based instrument in the cockpit (the airspeed indicator)
See Figure page 371
TAS, True Airspeed
This is the speed of your aircraft relative to the air mass you are moving through
It differs from IAS due to density changes and instrumentation errors
See Figure page 371
GS, Ground Speed
This is the speed of your aircraft relative to the ground
This is the same as TAS only when no wind is present

5. Which way is North? Magnetic Variation
The north pole is defined as the northern axis about which the earth rotates
The direction towards the north pole is “True North”
See Figure 12-8 page 363
There is a magnetic pole near (but not exactly at) the north pole
This is where a magnetic compass will point
This is known as “Magnetic North”
The difference between the direction that a compass points and True North is called Magnetic Variation.
Magnetic Variation differs for different places on the earth
Lines connecting points that have the same magnetic variation are called isogonals
See Figure page 368
The location of the magnetic north changes slowly over time.
New charts are published and the isogonals will change as the north magnetic pole moves
This is one reason to make sure that you use current charts

6. Magnetic Deviation
The presence of ferrous metals (containing iron) and operating electrical equipment can change the direction a compass will point
Each aircraft is tested and the difference between where the aircraft compass points and the actual magnetic north is recorded
This is known as the magnetic deviation
Deviation is specific to an aircraft
Variation is specific to a location
Pilots use the deviation to plan which headings their compass will indicate when they wish to fly a particular heading

7. Navigation Triangle
A vector is a quantity that has a magnitude and a direction
3 vectors are used in navigation
Vector Abbreviation
Direction
Magnitude
HDG/TAS
Heading
True airspeed
W/V
Wind direction
Wind speed
TR/GS
Track
Ground speed
These vectors combine to form what is known as the navigation triangle
HDG/TAS + W/V = TR/GS
See Figure 12-4 page 358

8. Wind Wind can have a large effect on navigation
It affects which headings you will use
Crosswinds will affect the heading you will use to cover a desired ground track
It affects the time of the flight
Headwind will decrease your ground speed
Tailwind will increase your ground speed
See Figure 12-6 page 360 for determining headwind and crosswind components

9. Directions Heading Track Bearing
The direction the aircraft is pointed
Track
The direction the aircraft moves
See Figure 12-1 page 356
Bearing
Relative position between 2 objects
It is important to specify if a bearing to TO an object or FROM an object
Heading, track, and bearings may be given relative to True North or Magnetic North
It is important to specify which
Wind direction
These are given as the direction the wind is coming FROM
If a wind is blowing from the east to the west it’s direction is 090
Runway directions
Given in 2 digit groups
Specify the direction you are travelling when you go down the runway
The west end of an east/west runway would be labelled 09

10. Time
Time is referenced to the time at the prime meridian which runs through Greenwich England.
GMT, UTC, Zulu all mean the same thing
Know how to interpret the 4, 6, and 8 digit time groups
See page 361
In Australia, there are 3 different Time Zones
See Figure 12-7 page 362
During the summer, some states will set their clocks an hour ahead
This is known as Summer Time or Daylight Saving Time, DST
When this is done you are not “changing the time zone”
For example, NSW in December is still in the time zone UTC+10. However, you would say “DST is in use” to know that the local clocks would display UTC+11 hours.

11. Location Specified by Latitude and Longitude
Latitude is the position north or south of the equator
Longitude is the position east or west of the prime meridian
See Figures 12-8 and 12-9 page 363
Also can be specified relative to some distinctive landmark
See Figure page 364

12. Charts
There are several different charts which are useful for aviation navigation
VTC
Gives the most detailed information near an aerodrome
Not available for all aerodrome
WAC
Most useful for visual navigation
Many useful land marks are presented
PCA
Provides some “big picture” information
Abbreviations for aerodromes
Areas defined for Area Forecasts (ARFOR)
Flightwatch frequencies
VNC
Also useful for visual navigation
Not available for all areas
ERC
Used for both visual and instrument navigation