PlasticPilot.net

One month ago, I posted a quizz about radio-nagivation, in the post “GPS Failure ! Are you ready ?“. I know I promised the answers one week later, so yes I’m late on this one, but here are the answers.

1: You fly away from a VOR on radial 030, how do you set your OBS ?
b) 030 selected - flag FROM - The selected radial must always be coherent with the heading, and the flag with the operation. Heading = radial, flag FROM when flying away.

2: From the previous situation, how to go back to the VOR ?
b) Turn around, select radial 210, fly towards needle to re-center it - Same as above. Technically it is possible to simply turn around and then fly away from the needle (non-commanding instrument), but this is the best way to get lost.

3: You fly to a VOR on heading 360. How should you report to ATC ?
d) Radial 180 inbound - You are south of the VOR, so on radial 180, and fly this radial inbound.

4: You fly away from an NDB on an north-easterly heading, this is…
c) QDR 045 - QDR 045: flying away from station on heading 045, by definition.

5: To check your position relatively to an airport, you request…
a) QDR - Magnetic heading from the airport to you, the easiest thing to draw on your chart.

6: You need heading to the airport, so you request…
c) QDM - Magnetic heading to fly to go to the airport

7: VOR needle is centered, radial 210 selected and TO flag, you are…
a) North-east of the VOR - You fly to the VOR on heading 210, so position is North-East.

8: When do you select a radial 180° away from heading ?
d) Never ever do that ! - See question 1

If anything seems unclear to you, I’ll be happy to answer any question you may have.

GPS is everywhere, making old-fashioned radio-navigation obsolete. But what if your on-board equipment fails ? Do you have a handheld unit ? Are you ready to revert to radio-navigation ? If ATC request that you intercept and follow a radial, or what is your position from an NDB, will you comply easily ?

If you think this never happen, let me tell you a short story… After flying from Geneva to Biggin-Hill IFR, it was time for a friend of mine to be in the left seat for flying the 3 hours leg home VFR. The cable from the GPS antenna to the GNS430 failed as we started to fly around / below the complex airspace of Paris TMA - yes, GPS do fail !

Rather than a lesson of radio-navigation this post is a quizz to challenge your skills. May the brave readers put their answers in comments !

1: You fly away from a VOR on radial 030, how do you set your OBS ?
a) 030 selected - flag TO
b) 030 selected - flag FROM
c) 210 selected - flag TO
d) 210 selected - flag FROM

2: From the previous situation, how to go back to the VOR ?
a) Turn around, select radial 030, fly towards needle to re-center it
b) Turn around, select radial 210, fly towards needle to re-center it
a) Turn around, select radial 030, fly away from needle to re-center it
b) Turn around, select radial 210, fly away from needle to re-center it

3: You fly to a VOR on heading 360. How should you report to ATC ?
a) Radial 180 outbound
b) Radial 360 outbound
c) Radial 360 inbound
d) Radial 180 inbound

4: You fly away from an NDB on an north-easterly heading, this is…
a) QDR 225
b) QDM 045
c) QDR 045
d) None of the above

5: To check your position relatively to an airport, you request…
a) QDR
b) QUJ
c) QDM
d) QTE

6: You need heading to the airport, so you request…
a) QUJ
b) QDR
c) QDM
d) QTE

7: VOR needle is centered, radial 210 selected and TO flag, you are…
a) North-east of the VOR
b) South-east of the VOR
c) North-west of the VOR
d) South-west of the VOR

8: When do you select a radial 180° away from heading ?
a) To fly to the VOR
b) It is not possible to do it, silly man!
c) To fly away from the VOR.
d) Never ever do that !

Let’s see now how many fellow pilots will dare to answer in comments. Feel free to ask any question as well. I will publish the answers in one week. Floor is yours !