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Hint # 2 is a mental exercise that can and should be mastered on the ground that makes navigation a snap.
An entire IFR flight is a mental exercise in abstract thought under the distracting conditions of lots of noise, engine, radio, passengers. It is entirely directed to going somewhere. .
In order to get control of this situation, the pilot is constantly computing HEADINGS, mentally. He computes take-off headings, headings to fly to intersect his courses, headings to turn to when he is on course, headings to compensate for wind, headings to intersect and fly his holding patterns and procedure turns, headings to intercept his approach path, heading corrections for wind during the approach. .
This is entirely mental arithmetic, that is constantly going on during the actual flying. Thus, this ability to compute headings should be even more second nature than flying the airplane. .
I usually use a 30 degree intercept angle, because it makes the arithmetic simple. .
Once the heading has been computed, it is a simple matter to turn the airplane to the heading and fly in a straight line ? until the course has been interecepted. However, this simple act takes quite a bit of practice (expensive practice) so it can be done consistently.
What makes it so difficult is the noise in the cockpit, Air Traffic Control, and the general distractions of keeping the airplane under control make it difficult to think about what the heading should be.
Once you have computed the heading accurately, you can concentrate on controlling the airplane. .
I usually find, that when I haven't been flying for a while it becomes progressively more difficult to maintain this orientation. .
That is why I developed this mental exercise on the ground when I am daydreaming about flying.
I us a 30 degree intercept angle and have a mental picture of a compass rose. Then I randomly pick some radial that I am located on and some radial that I want to go to and intercept.
At this point, I ask myself what my heading should be to intercept the radial. It is a computation that should be complete in 2 seconds or less, and when it takes longer, I know I need practice. . I use the 2 second time as a standard. .
For instance, if you are on the 45 degree radial and want to intercept the 270 degree radial outbound what would your heading be? .
If you are on the 315 degree radial and want to intercept the 270 degree radial outbound what would your heading be? .
If you are on the 225 detree radial and want to intercept the 270 radial outbound what would your heading be? .
If you are on the 0 degree radial and want to intercept the 270 degree radial outbound what would your heading be? .
If you are on the 0 degree radial and want to intercept the 90 degree radial outbound what would your heading be? .
The above examples should be varied with different radials being substituted,both inbound and outbound and you should be able to solve any interception computation in 2 seconds or less.
These mental exercises require visualizing where you are and where you want to go, and are the bread and butter of IFR navigation problems.
They can be done, ON THE GROUND, while you are thinking about flying, or driving down the road. They don't cost anything, ON THE GROUND, and when you can consistently compute the headings in 2 seconds, you are up to snuff, providing you can still do it in an airplane under the hood. .
If you are trying to keep the cost of training within reason, these are exercises that will save you a considerable amount of money, as well as mastering an essential part of IFR flight, prior to drilling holes in the air.
This is the sort of abstract reasoning and mental visualization that you need to develop for Instrument flying, and it will make your VFR flying more precise.
If you have questions you may E-Mail me at
atpcfii@ferrypilot.cjb.net
Fred H. Quarles ATP-CFII
434-220-4880
- End of Hint # 2 -
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