Diversions
Just interested to hear people's thoughts about the way they carry out diversions in flight (for small aircraft).
I was taught to do the CLEAR method which is:
Compass - align to DG
Course - draw or freehand draw the course on map
L - Log time when turning onto new heading. Work out distance and an ETI for the leg.
E - Engine Checks
A - Altitude (correct cruising level)
R - Radio (inform ATC of diversion)
When my instructor asked me to divert, he asked me to do it straight away, not from a point say 5NM ahead where I would have time to plan the diversion. This got me into a fluster as I would draw the track quickly using my protractor and then measure the angle (this only takes about 10-15 seconds), but he insisted that I did it freehand and estimate the heading and work out the correct heading when back on track.
Is this a bad way to do a diversion??
Do people do it this rough freehand way or do they spend 30-60 seconds and make sure things are accurate??
I'm interested to hear people's methods of diversions so please let me know the process in which you do it.
Many thanks in advance.........
MK