Teaching the Science, Inspiring the Art, Producing Aviation Candidates!

Aeronautical Navigation
An Introduction
Written for the Notre Dame Pilot Initiative
By the Pilots of the University of Notre Dame
Quote
For the execution of the voyage to the
Indies, I did not make use of
intelligence, mathematics or maps.

Christopher Columbus
Navigation
Navisship
Agereto direct
Roadmap
Terrestrial coordinates
Chart projections
Concepts of position
Piloting & dead reckoning
Radio navigation systems
Other electronic navigation systems
Celestial navigation
Terrestrial Coordinate System
Great Circles The largest circle that can
be drawn on the surface of the earth & all
like it.
Equator
Meridians
Equator Meridian Great Circle
Terrestrial Coordinate System
Small Circles-all other circles
Parallels
Longitude/Latitude
Parallels of latitude are small circles
(with the exception of the equator)
Meridians of longitude are great circles
Desirable qualities of a
chart projection:
Maintain true shape of physical
features.
Maintain correct proportions of
features relative to one another.
True scale, permitting accurate
measurement of distance.
Rhumb lines plot as straight lines.
Great circles plot as straight lines.
No chart has all of these!
Mercator vs. Gnomonic
Gnomonic Projection
Mercator Projection
Lambert Conformal
Projection (Sectional Chart)
Sectional Charts
Airways Follow Great Circles
V-12 from HAR to JST departs HAR
westbound on a heading of 281, and
departs JST eastbound on a heading
of 096.
Navigational concepts
A circle has 360 degrees
A degree has 60 minutes
1 of latitude is the same distance
anywhere on the earth.
How many miles is one minute of
latitude?
Ans. 1 min lat. = 1 nm = 2000 yds.
Where are we?
At the ROTC Building -point
On Juniper Road -LOP
mile from Golden Dome -LOP(circle)
Near Meijer
Ambiguous(which one?)
Imprecise(how far?)
We will be there in 5 minutes
Answer to: when will we arrive there?

Line of Position (LOP)
A line that defines our position in 1-D
Not necessarily straight
Arc, circle, hyperbola, intersection of
spheres
Need a second line to define a fix in 2-D
Need a third to be sure
Navigational Elements
Measurement
Point
Bearing
Range
2 bearings
2 ranges
Bearing & range
Results
Fix
LOP
LOP (arc)
Fix
Fix
Fix


Aviation Example
Over SBN
GIJ 178R
GIJ 4.2 DME
GSH 313/GIJ 178
GSH 16.3/GIJ 4.2
GIJ 178/4.2
How do we get there?
Plot a course
Whats a course?
path of intended motion
Steer a heading
Whats a heading?
the direction the aircraft is pointed
Make a good track
Whats a track?
the aircrafts path over the ground
Course, Heading, & Track
Big Bad Wind
Types of Navigation Systems
Pilotage
Dead Reckoning
Radio Navigation
ADF
VOR/DME/RNAV
Electronic Navigation
Loran
GPS
Inertial
Celestial
Basic VFR Navigation
Techniques:
Pilotage
Sectional chart
Dead reckoning
(DEDuced reckoning)
Compass & watch
Nomenclature
True & magnetic courses are given
in 3 digits, e.g. 090
Relative bearings are given in
degrees or clock position, e.g. 10
left of the nose, or 11 oclock

0800 Fix
0900 DR
1000 DR
1100 DR
1200 DR
1300 DR
Dead Reckoning
DEN
N
E
S
W
PHX
Big Bad Mountain
Big Bad Tower
Types of Navigation Systems
Pilotage
Dead Reckoning
Radio Navigation
ADF
VOR/DME/RNAV
Electronic Navigation
Loran
GPS
Inertial
Celestial
The Radio Compass
1946 Stinson Voyager
ADF/NDB
The ADF, or
Automatic Direction
Finder, is the receiver
in the aircraft
The NDB, or
Nondirectional Radio
Beacon, is the
transmitting antenna
on the ground
The ADF is the receiver of the NDBs transmissions
NDB
The NDB is a ground-based radio
transmitter that emits a signal in every
direction
Benefits
Economic
Easy to maintain
Not line of sight
Errors
Susceptible to interference (T-Storms)
Bounces around coastlines
NDB
Operates on 190-535kHz
Range is 190-1750kHz
Types
HH 2000+ watts; 75nm range
H 50-1999 watts; 50nm range
MH less than 50 watts; 25nm range
Compass Locator less than 25 watts;
15 nm range
ADF
The ADF determines the bearing
from the aircraft TO the station
Needle ALWAYS points to the station
Indicates relative bearing
Bearing, measured clockwise, from the
nose of the aircraft TO the station
Card only indicates angle has nothing
to do with direction aircraft is pointed
ADF
Using relative bearing and magnetic
heading, magnetic bearing can be
found
Actual heading to fly to the station
MB = MH + RB
Homing the NDB
Homing
Flying the aircraft on any heading
required to keep the needle pointed
straight ahead (0 RB)
Works great without wind
Takes longer and not direct with wind
Tracking the NDB
Tracking flying on a heading that
maintains a constant, desired track
to/from a station
Find heading/course that takes you to the
station
Once off by 10, double the deflection and turn
towards station (head of the needle)
Once deflection equals correction, you are
back on course
Turn 10 towards needle
Repeat as necessary and become more
precise with correction
Intercepting the NDB
Parallel course
Note deflection
Double it
Turn towards needle
Once deflection equals correction,
you are on course
Correct for wind (tracking)
NOTE: very similar to tracking
Types of ADFs
Fixed Card
Always shows 0 at the top
Moveable Card
Can show magnetic heading at top
Bad idea
RMI Radio Magnetic Indicator
Slaved to move with aircraft
GREAT to have!
Types of ADFs
Fixed Card Moveable Card RMI