Navigation & Flight Planning

Introduction to Navigation & Flight Planning

Various types of air navigation aids are in use today, each serving a special purpose.
- Be aware of the possibility of momentary erroneous indications on cockpit displays when the primary signal generators for a ground-based navigational transmitter is inoperative
- Disregard any navigation indication, regardless of its apparent validity, if the particular transmitter was identified by NOTAM or otherwise as unusable or inoperative
These aids have varied owners and operators, namely: the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the military services, private organizations, individual states and foreign governments
The FAA has the statutory authority to establish, operate, maintain air navigation facilities and to prescribe standards for the operation of any of these aids which are used for instrument flight in federally controlled airspace
These aids are tabulated in the Chart Supplement U.S..
Reinforce your understanding of Navigation & Flight Planning by reviewing the key concepts on this page before moving on.

On This Page

NAVAID Depiction
Compass Rose
On VFR (Visual Flight Rules) Charts, information about radio aids to navigation (NAVAID) is boxed, as illustrated. []
When two or more radio aids in a general area have the same name with different frequencies, Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) channel numbers, or identification letters, and no misinterpretation can result, the name of the radio aid may be indicated only once within the identification box
Very High Frequency/Ultra High Frequency (VHF/UHF) Navigation Aid (NAVAID) names and identification boxes (shown in blue) take precedence
Only those items that differ (e.g., frequency, Morse Code) are repeated in the box in the appropriate color
The choice of separate or combined boxes is made in each case on the basis of economy of space and clear identification of the radio aids
A NAVAID that is physically located on an airport may not always be represented as a typical NAVAID symbol
A small open circle indicates the NAVAID location when collocated with an airport icon. []
The type of NAVAID will be identified by: "VOR," (VHF Omni-Directional Range) "VORTAC" (VOR Tactical Aircraft Control) or "VORDME," (VOR-Distance Measuring Equipment) positioned on and breaking the top line of the NAVAID box
NAVAID Depiction
Compass Rose

Navigation & Flight Planning

Navigation & Flight Planning

FAA Form 7233-4, International Flight Plan
Flight plans are a result of the deliberate planning process which results in a tool for both the pilot and Air Traffic Control. []
Completed and filed using FAA Form 7233-4, International Flight Plan, flight plans provide basic times and locations to track flights and manage traffic.
- FAA Form 7233-1 remains available to Department of Defense users and civilians filing stereo routes.
Flight plans come in a variety of forms:
- Civilian Flight Plans:
  - Flight Plans.
- Military Flight Plans:
- International Flight Plans:
  - International flight considerations.
FAA Form 7233-4, International Flight Plan

Navigation & Flight Planning

Navigation & Flight Planning

Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with pilotage and dead reckoning
References: FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge); VFR Navigation Charts

Knowledge 7 ACS Elements

Risk Management 3 ACS Elements

Skills 7 ACS Elements

Objective: To determine whether the applicant exhibits satisfactory knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with planning an IFR cross-country and filing an IFR flight plan.
Note: Preparation, presentation, and explanation of a computer-generated flight plan is an acceptable option.
References: 14 CFR part 91; AIM; Chart Supplements; FAA-H-8083-2 (Risk Management Handbook), FAA-H-8083-3 (Airplane Flying Handbook), FAA-H-8083-15, FAA-H-8083-16, FAA-H-8083-25 (Pilot Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge); IFR Enroute Charts; NOTAMs; IFR Navigation Charts.

Knowledge 5 ACS Elements

Risk Management 7 ACS Elements

Skills 6 ACS Elements

Navigation & Flight Planning

The FAA provides reliable data within the U.S.
- Outside of the U.S., the FAA disclaims that pilots must refer to charts from host countries for situational awareness for detailed and accurate non-U.S. data.
- Inaccuracies internationally result form non-timely data received by the FAA from the host nation and incompatibility with some services like the Notice to Airmen system.
Courses are available such as the AOPA's Air Safety Institute Know Before You Go - Navigating Today's Airspace.
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Resources, such as AOPA's Know Before You Go: Navigating Today's Airspace, is available to help learn about the national airspace system and how to best navigate through it
Global Air provides suggestions on international flight requirements.

Navigation & Flight Planning