Chapter Two Low-Level Chart Preparation

CHAPTER TWO

LOW-LEVEL CHART PREPARATION

200.

INTRODUCTION

The success of any low-level, high-speed navigation flight depends primarily on route choice and

preflight planning. After determining the basic routing, it is necessary to select the appropriate

chart(s), accurately plot the route (measure twice, then mark in pencil, double-checking before

you mark in ink), and determine headings, altitudes, and any other information necessary to

successfully complete the mission. In this section, the instructor assists students in preparing a

low-level chart for the first VNAV flight. All remaining VNAV charts are completed outside of

the classroom. Neatness counts: your charts are a reflection of you and your professionalism!

201.

DETERMINE THE ROUTE

The T-6A low-level training routes used by VT-4/10 are stereo routes defined by Letter of

Agreement. These stereo routes are described in detail in the T-6A VNAV Stereo Route

Handout. Each of the stereo route descriptions includes all of the low-level points (A, B, C, etc),

plus the routing and altitudes to and from the low-level routing. This information describes your

entire route of flight for your VNAV sorties, and a copy of each route's description will be

affixed to the back of the prepared chart. Later in the T-1/T-39 phase, this information will come

from AP-1B.

202.

SELECT APPROPRIATE CHART

Accurate navigation at low altitudes requires detailed charts. The typical charts used for low-

level visual navigation are 1:500000 scale or larger. The primary chart used at VT-4/10 is the

TPC, specifically the TPC H-24B. Most VT-4/10 training routes can be plotted on this chart.

Ensure you have the most current available edition of the chart. Refer to the Chart Update

Manual (CHUM) to verify the chart edition.

203.

PLOT TURNPOINTS

With the route identified, transfer the route coordinates to the 1:500,000 TPC chart. If this was

the very first construction and planning of the route, the coordinates would be plotted and the

nearest visually significant feature within NM would be chosen as the turnpoint. However, the

route descriptions already designate these features (see VNAV Stereo Route Handout). These

features (e.g., dam, power plant, tower, etc.) are the turnpoints you use in flight and for mission

planning purposes, such as distance and course computations.

Use a pencil and nickel-size template to place a circle around the significant visual feature at

each point except the target. No other marks except CHUM annotations are allowed in the

turnpoint circle! For now, label these points in pencil.

LOW-LEVEL CHART PREPARATION

2-1