AviationBanter - View Single Post - Navigation flight planning during training

**C J Campbell[_1_]** · March 13th 07, 11:59 PM posted to rec.aviation.student,rec.aviation.piloting

On 2007-03-13 15:18:30 -0700, said:

destination into a machine and letting it do the flight plan breeds a
little too much complacency. Putting a little thought into your routing
can yield great rewards.

Yeah, true. I am still quite bad at doing it the old fashioned way
(even after passing a checkride) but I still take the trouble to do it
that way because it feels more rewarding. Besides, just using the GPS
makes it a bit like flying in a simulator. However I do find it hard
to do a diversion to an unknown airport and fold the chart to draw an
imaginary line, figure out a new heading, correct for wind etc. I tend
to cheat in that situation and get help from flight following or rely
on the GPS if I have one.

Why do you do it that way? Too much time with head down in the cockpit.
I just look for a major feature near the airport (or on the way to it)
and turn toward it. I've got a pretty rough idea of how far it is.

How do you think examiners know if the candidate got it right? They
know that the diversion airport is that-a-way. At any time during the
flight, I know which airport I would divert to and what direction I
would turn to get there. Trying to figure it out when you already have
an emergency is too late.

--
Waddling Eagle
World Famous Flight Instructor