PPL cross country
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: London, UK
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riverrock - yep, always have a map, but don't normally write anything on it - just make sure its folded to wherever I [think I] am.
At the end of the day, do what works for you (I've been evolving my method up in the 60 hours since I passed my PPL - will undoubtedly continue to change).
With a GPS, there seem to be 2 schools of thought: 1) follow the magenta line (great on an IFR GPS, when receiving a radar service) and 2) use the GPS to monitor and back up visual navigation. I tend to switch between the 2 based on workload and traffic.
The other day, when I experienced brief GPS jamming (for about 20 seconds all 3 GPSs malfunctioned (turned in circles) then lost signal) - Farnborough Radar immediately offered navigation assistance, ATC are there to help if you need it!
Another thing worth getting the hang of is using VOR, DME and ADF for quick estimates of position (not drawing anything on the map, just building a mental picture).
At the end of the day, do what works for you (I've been evolving my method up in the 60 hours since I passed my PPL - will undoubtedly continue to change).
With a GPS, there seem to be 2 schools of thought: 1) follow the magenta line (great on an IFR GPS, when receiving a radar service) and 2) use the GPS to monitor and back up visual navigation. I tend to switch between the 2 based on workload and traffic.
The other day, when I experienced brief GPS jamming (for about 20 seconds all 3 GPSs malfunctioned (turned in circles) then lost signal) - Farnborough Radar immediately offered navigation assistance, ATC are there to help if you need it!
Another thing worth getting the hang of is using VOR, DME and ADF for quick estimates of position (not drawing anything on the map, just building a mental picture).
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Glasgow
Age: 40
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But yes in future VOR / DME or triangulating two VOR should give me a position as an additional check if they aren't being used for the original nav. After PPL (and some consolidation time) I'm planning on looking towards doing the IMC rating at which time I'll be using them considerably more.
