Air Navigation Aids

CHAPTER ONE

T-6A INSTRUMENT NAVIGATION

As you probably realize, INAV will be a demanding stage of training requiring dedicated study.

A thorough working knowledge of procedures is essential to your success on instructional

flights. However, you must go beyond rote memorization of procedures and strive for a clear

understanding of each maneuver before you get into the plane. Remember, the knowledge

gained in this stage of training will be used as the foundation of INAV as you progress through

training and into your operational squadrons.

As important as instrument procedures and concepts are, you must be aware of your priorities

while in flight. Always remember the golden rule: "AVIATE, NAVIGATE,

COMMUNICATE, CHECKLISTS." These functions must be addressed in that order of

priority. In other words, monitoring desired flight parameters (heading, altitude, airspeed, etc.)

and monitoring aircraft systems performance should be your first priority. Do not become

preoccupied with navigation at the expense of safety. It would be pointless to have a precise plot

of your position if you inadvertently allowed the pilot to stall the aircraft while making this plot.

Navigating your aircraft properly has a higher priority than communicating. Consider the

following: During most flights, there are situations when just navigating properly takes all of

your concentration. Attempting to engage in radio communications could overload you to the

point of making errors in navigation. This is not to say that necessary radio transmissions should

be omitted or delayed excessively. However, a slight delay in reporting to ATC is more

preferable than ending up in a bad situation because you overloaded yourself with

communication tasks. Your last priority should be briefs and checklists between the pilot and

yourself.

101. AIR NAVIGATION AIDS

Various types of air navigation aids are in use today, each serving a special purpose. These aids

have varied owners and operators: The FAA, the military services, private organizations,

individual states, and foreign governments. The FAA has the statutory authority to establish,

operate, and maintain air navigation facilities. Additionally, the FAA prescribes standards for

the operation of any of these aids used for instrument flight in federally controlled airspace.

Aircrews should be aware of the possibility of momentary erroneous indications on cockpit

displays when the primary signal generator for a ground-based navigational transmitter (e.g., a

glideslope, VOR, or non-directional beacon is inoperative.) Aircrews should disregard any

navigation indication, regardless of its apparent validity, if the particular transmitter was

identified by NOTAM or otherwise as being unusable or inoperative.

VHF OMNIDIRECTIONAL RANGE

VORs operate within the 108.0 to 117.95 MHz frequency band and has a power output necessary

to provide coverage within its assigned operational service volume. They are subject to line-of-

sight restrictions and the range varies proportionally to the altitude of the receiving equipment.

1-2 INTRODUCTION TO NAVIGATION SYSTEMS