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Aviators use air navigation to determine where they are going and how to get there. This category serves as a reference for techniques and methods used in air navigation.
Posts
- Basic Terms
- The Earth (Part One)
- The Earth (Part Two)
- Understanding Time in Celestial Navigation
- Relationship of Time and Longitude
- Charts and Projections (Part One)
- Charts and Projections (Part Two)
- Aeronautical Charts
In addition to this section, several other sources provide excellent references to methods and techniques of navigation:
- The Journal of the Institute of Navigation—published quarterly by The Institute of Navigation, 1800 Diagonal Road, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314, and covers the latest in navigation technology.
- The United States Observatory and United States Navy Oceanographic Office—publications include the Air Almanac, Nautical Almanac, NV Publication 9 (Volumes 1 and 2).
- The American Practical Navigator, SR Publication 249, Volumes 1 through 3, Sight Reduction Tables for Air Navigation and Catalog, and the NGA Public Sale Aeronautical Charts and Products—published by the National Geo-Spatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) (formally known as the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA)).
- Dutton’s Navigation and Piloting—published by the Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland.
Recommended Tools
Rotating Flight Navigation Plotter – Rotating azimuth eases flight planning with direct course readout. 8 scales to meet the needs of all VFR aeronautical charts; nautical on one side, statute on the flip. Nautical-statute conversion scale also included.
Slide-Rule-Style E6B Flight Computer. On the circular side, black is used for the rate arrow and units to be calculated; Red is used for weight and volume; Blue is used for distance, time and temperature scales. On the wind side, colors are used to identify wind variation: blue identifies west (or right wind correction angle) and red identifies east (or left wind correction angle). ASA’s color E6-B is made with solid aluminum construction and features the functionality pilots have relied on for decades.
Additional Navigation Tools and Resources
- U. S. Air Almanac 2018 – The Air Almanac 2018 contains the astronomical data required for air celestial navigation, making it a necessary resource for all pilots and others attempting to chart routes based on celestial bodies. The Almanac also provides the Greenwich hour angle and declination of the Sun, Moon, and three navigational planets along with the Greenwich hour angle of Aries, all tabulated at 10-minute intervals.
- Davis Instruments Sextant – Used for measuring the angular distances between objects and especially for taking altitudes in navigation.
- Sight Reduction Tables For Air Navigation Pub. No. 249 – Vol 1. – These tables were designed for air navigation where weight and space are at a premium, however, they are very popular with sailors too due to the fact that Vol. 1 offers a speedier way to compute stars. Volumes two and three may also be helpful.