VFR Plogs and 'Magnetic Track'

[High Wing Drifter]

It's always healthy to think generically though. However, the wind forecast is usually accurate enough that even I can arrive roughly where I should be even in a 74kts cruise puddlejumper. I don't think the issue is mental capability anyway, I think it is more to do familiarity. I can only speak for myself, but once I proved conclusively to myself that DR works very very well, well only then was I happy with trimming the process and working directly off the chart, etc.

[RatherBeFlying]

1. Draw line on map (airport to airport or via VORs).
2. Write takeoff time by departure a/p
3. Get on line and work heading to take out drift
4. Write time on map at significant points
5. Work out ETA to ensure sufficient fuel -- don't forget mixture. Your average digital watch has a countdown timer in hours and minutes. Set to fuel duration at planned power setting and you have an idea how long you have before you will be flying a low performance glider

[Fournicator]

HWD:

I take your point about thinking generically, but as long as you're aware of the assumption you're making (re: minimal change to wind vector from magnetic variation), I for one am quite happy to routinely make it.

I also agree about forecast winds, I'm just saying that I don't believe they're forecast to the accuracy where variation would make a significant difference to the accuarcy of the forecast. In addition, I definately couldn't fly a heading to an accuracy of the tiny percentage of a degree that four degrees or so would make to the calculated drift.

I still think there's a lot to be said for teaching people to mark mag tracks, timing marks, etc directly on the map, then use MDR to get a heading when airborne? If the technique works OK, and it does, why not teach the technique from the outset of navigation training?

[IO540]

What is MDR?

The winds aloft forecast is so far off, in both heading and velocity, it makes no diff whether you use true or mag bearings.

All that 1 degree precision in the nav exams is such a joke.

[Whopity]

Because everything the Met says is TRUE

Theoretically yes but its actually a Met mans guess, which is less accurate than the variation in the UK, so it matters not whether you use it as True or Mag.