ismael chang ghalimi

VOR Navigation

Today’s lesson was dedicated to VOR navigation. The VHF Omnidirectional Range developed in the 1960’s remains one of the primary tools for instrument navigation. During a 1.7 hours flight, we practiced VOR tracking and VOR radial interception. The Primary Flight Display on the Avidyne FlightMax Entegra provides a digital version of the Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI), which makes VOR navigation a lot more precise than with traditional VOR equipment. I think I’m getting the hang of it.

[…] Following VOR navigation, today is dedicated to GPS navigation. Because the GPS can accurately determine one’s position in real time, and depict it on a moving map, it would seem that GPS navigation should be a walk in the park. In reality, with power comes responsibility, and the increased situational awareness offered by GPS navigation comes at a price: one must master the complexity of the Garmin GNS 430, and also make sure that GPS satellites will still provide accurate information when time comes to initiate a GPS approach. The later is achieved through a RAIM prediction, which tells the pilot whether enough satellites will be available from any given location, at any given time in the future. We logged 1.8 hours and 2 instrument approaches. […]