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CFI Airmen Certification Standards: Technical Subject Areas

Navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning

Air navigation is the process of piloting an aircraft from one geographic position to another while monitoring one's position as the flight progresses.

Flight planning includes plotting the course on an aeronautical chart, selecting checkpoints, measuring distances, obtaining pertinent weather information, and computing flight time, headings, and fuel requirements.

Methods include pilotage (navigating by reference to visible landmarks), dead reckoning (computations of direction and distance from a known position), and technology (radio navigation, GPS). While any one of these three methods may lead a flight's successful outcome, all three methods should be used during flight planning and relied upon throughout the flight

Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 16.

CFI candidates probably won't be asked to spend much time on this topic during the oral exam unless they have one or more ACS codes on their knowledge test reports.

Generally speaking, CFI candidates should know how to fill out a VFR navigation log. The tasks therein cover a lot of the ACS material, including:

  • Route selection (airspace, terrain)
  • VFR cruising altitudes
  • Calculating heading, true airspeed, groundspeed, time en route
  • Climb and descent calculations
  • Estimated and actual flight plan results.
  • Required fuel and VFR fuel reserves

CFI candidates will need to explain how to open and close a VFR Flight Plan with Flight Service.

Risk management includes use of the PAVE checklist and making a go/no-go decision.

A few other topics are in here as well, including pilotage and dead reckoning, diversion, lost procedures, compass errors, and aviation charts.

Candidates may need to review "inflight intercept procedures," which is documented in the Aeronautical Information Manual, 5.6.13.

Airmen Certification Standards: Flight Instructor (Airplane)

Areas of Operation II. Technical Subject Areas
Task I: Navigation and Cross-Country Flight Planning

References

  1. Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3)
  2. Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25)

Objective: To determine the applicant understands navigation and cross-country flight planning, can apply that knowledge, manage associated risks, demonstrate appropriate skills, and provide effective instruction.

Knowledge: The applicant demonstrates instructional knowledge by describing and explaining:

  1. Route planning, including consideration of different classes and special use airspace (SUA) and selection of appropriate and available navigation/communication systems and facilities.
  2. Altitude selection accounting for terrain and obstacles, glide distance of airplane, visual flight rules (VFR) cruising altitudes, and effect of wind.
  3. Plotting a course. Power setting selection. Calculating:
    1. Time, climb and descent rates, course, distance, heading, true airspeed, and groundspeed
    2. Estimated time of arrival, including conversion to universal coordinated time (UTC)
    3. Fuel requirements, including reserve
  4. Elements of a VFR flight plan.
  5. Correlate weather information to make a go/no-go decision.
  6. Procedures for activating and closing a VFR flight plan.
  7. Magnetic compass errors.
  8. Pilotage and dead reckoning.
  9. Planned calculations versus actual results and required corrections. Diversion and lost procedures.
  10. Inflight intercept procedures.
  11. Use of an electronic flight bag (EFB), if used.
  12. Chart symbols.

Risk Management: The applicant explains and teaches how to identify and manage risk associated with:

  1. Pilot.
  2. Aircraft.
  3. Environment (e.g., weather, airports, airspace, terrain, obstacles).
  4. External pressures.
  5. Limitations of air traffic control (ATC) services.
  6. Fuel planning.

Skills: The applicant demonstrates and simultaneously explains how to:

  1. Prepare, present, and explain a cross-country flight plan assigned by the evaluator, including a risk analysis to the first fuel stop.
  2. Apply pertinent information from appropriate and current aeronautical charts, Chart Supplements; Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) relative to airport, runway and taxiway closures; and other flight publications.
  3. Create a navigation plan and simulate filing a VFR flight plan.
  4. Recalculate fuel reserves based on a scenario provided by the evaluator.

Flight Instructor Test Questions

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Robert Wederquist   CP-ASEL - AGI - IGI
Commercial Pilot • Instrument Pilot
Advanced Ground Instructor • Instrument Ground Instructor

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