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Panshanger AerodromeYoung Aviators DayInformation Booklet

North London Flying School: t: 01707 391791 http://www.northlondonflyingschool.com/

Name: _________________________________________________

In association with:

Panshanger AerodromeYoung Aviators Booklet

AIRCRAFT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

**** Please read this notice carefully ****

1. Propellers are dangerous, even if they are not turning (they might be about to start). When they are turning, they can be “invisible” due to their high speed of rotation.

2. NEVER RUN on the airfield. You may not notice hazards until too late, and then be unable to stop in time.

3. Always avoid the area near the front of the aircraft.

4. Do not cross fences or roped off areas without permission.

5. Do not drop any litter, it can be blown towards the aircraft and cause damage.

6. All the aircraft you see are privately owned and are valuable. Do not touch them without permission from the owner.

7. If asked to carry out an instruction by an official of the airfield, please comply straight away.

8. Do not throw away or discard this safety notice. You should retain it for reference at all times whilst on the airfield.

9. Mobile phones MUST BE SWITCHED OFF for the duration of your flight.

10. Please remember that this is a busy flying school and priority will always be given to pilots, students and instructors

11. If there is anything here that you do not understand, please ask an official.

12. HAVE A GREAT FLIGHT!!!!

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What you will do today

1. At some point, you will get a free flight in a light aircraft. You will likely share the flight with 2 others and your Pilot will decide who sits in the front seat. Your pilot will also decide where you will fly to, so NO ARGUMENTS! All flights are Weather Permitting!

2. You have received this booklet and should try read though it and answer the Air Brained quiz as you are shown the various parts of the airfield.

3. You will get an informative day on many aspects of aviation from being a pilot; on how aircraft work; to engineering.

4. You will perform a pre-flight aircraft safety check to learn the steps a Pilot goes through prior to each and every flight.

5. You will undertake a pre-flight briefing with your Pilot who will explain the flight, the aircraft and the instruments.

6. You will be able to hear your Pilot talk with air traffic control during the various stages of flight

7. You will be taken “airside” to view the aircraft and ask questions.

8. You may get to help marshal aircraft to parking bays if the flying school is not too busy and the instructors allow it.

9. You will be able to see aircraft in the engineering hangers and perhaps the painting workshop depending on safety.

10. There is likely to be an aerobatics display by one of the pilots towards the end of the day.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to fly everyone or take everyone “airside” at the same time, so please expect some waiting around for your turn. This would be a good time to do your quiz.

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Table of Contents

AIRCRAFT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.............................................................2

What you will do today.....................................................................................3

How air-brained are you?.................................................................................5

Map Reading Exercises..................................................................................10

Word Search..................................................................................................12

Aircraft Parts Crossword.................................................................................13

About Panshanger Aerodrome.......................................................................14

A Brief History of Aviation...............................................................................15

How aircraft fly................................................................................................17

Components of an aircraft..............................................................................18

How Do Pilots Navigate?................................................................................24

How to become a Pilot....................................................................................26

Phonetic Alphabet..........................................................................................29

Marshalling Signals........................................................................................30

About this BookletThis booklet is intended to give brief information about aspects of General Aviation; it is not intended and should not be used for flight training purposes. Aviation legislation changes regularly and the details in this booklet may become out of date at any time. The information used was obtained from a variety of sources (web sites) such as the UK CAA (http://www.caa.co.uk); the USA FAA (http://faa.gov); the Light Aircraft Association (LAA) (http://www.laa.uk.com); Pilot Friend (http://www.pilotfriend.com); British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) (http://www.balpa.org.uk); and all copyrights are noted.

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http://www.balpa.org.uk/

http://www.pilotfriend.com/

http://www.laa.uk.com/

http://faa.gov/

http://www.caa.co.uk/


How air-brained are you?

During your visit, complete this questionnaire. There are no prizes. Most of the answers are in this booklet or around the airfield. Good Luck!

Question 1. Which of the Wright brothers is recognised as the first person to fly a powered aircraft?

a) Wilbur b) Steve c) Orville

Question 2. Which of the Greek figure flew too close to the Sun and fell from the sky?

a) Apollo b) Daedelus c) Icarus

Question 3. Who was the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic?

a) Charles Lindbergh b) Charles Yeager c) Amelia Earhart

Question 4. Who was the first man to fly in level flight faster than the speed of sound?

a) Wilbur Wright b) Chuck Yeagar c) Neil Armstrong

Question 5. The R22 is a popular training helicopter. How many people can it take?

a) Two b) Three c) Four

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Question 6. A microlight aircraft which is moved by moving the fuselage about the wing is known as:

a) A three-axis b) A flexwing c) A paraglider

Question 7. Re-arrange the letters of the following words, then change ONE letter to make an aviation related word:

a) Change “LEAF”” into an essential liquidb) Change “SCORE” into something unseen yet powerfulc) Change “TULIP” into a person

Question 8. What was Panshanger Aerodrome built for?

a) A World War I Training camp b) A World War II decoy aerodrome c) To annoy the neighbours

Question 9. What is the formula used by pilots when planning a dead-reckoning flight?

a) E=MC2

b) S=D/T c) C=2r

Question 10. Who was the first woman in the world to earn her pilots licence in 1910?

a) Amelia Earhart b) Anne Lindbergh c) Baroness Raymond de la Roche

Question 11. What type of aircraft is this?

a) Piper Archer b) Boeing 747 c) Cessna 172

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Question 12. How many Piper Arrows are there at the airfield?

a) 1 b) 4 c) 6

Question 13. How long is the runway at Panshanger?

a) 972 x 26m b) 888 x 26m c) 1008 x 62m

Question 14. What are the magnetic compass directions of the two runways at Panshanger?

a) 090o and 270o

b) 180o and 360o

c) 110o and 290o

Question 15. How far have you travelled if you have flown at 120 knots for 1 hour 45 minutes?

a) 210 nautical miles b) 205 nautical miles c) 17 feet

Question 16. What part of an aircraft is this?

a) Tail wheel b) Nose-gear oleo c) Main landing gear oleo

Question 17. How many helicopters are there at Panshanger?

a) 3 b) 4 c) 275

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http://www.furyhelicopters.com/images/903Sun.J


Question 18. What does this marshalling signal mean?

a) Face Me! b) Move Forward! c) You throw, I’ll catch!

Question 19. What aircraft is this Lycoming engine from?

a) Piper Arrow b) Piper Navajo c) Concord

Question 20. Where can you only find the power settings table for a specific aircraft?

a) Aeronautical Information Manual b) Aircraft manufacturers web site c) Pilots Operating Handbook

Question 21. The blanket of air around the earth is called the atmosphere. All our weather happens in which layer of the atmosphere?

a) Troposphere b) Stratosphere c) Mesosphere

Question 22. Why is it important to keep away from propellers?

a) They are sharp b) They might be “live” and could start if

touched resulting in death c) They are dirty and covered in bug-squat!

Question 23. How many hours of flight training do you need to become a private pilot?

a) 6 hours b) 100 hours maximum c) 45 hours minimum

Question 24. What makes an aircraft move around its Lateral-axis?

a) Elevator b) Aileron c) Rudder

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http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.aopa.org/images/whatsnew/newsitems/2002/propeller.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/news02q2.html&h=607&w=504&sz=54&tbnid=6ljO4y3PgROLZM:&tbnh=133&tbnw=110&prev=/images?q=propeller&start=1&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd


Question 25. What type of cloud is this?

a) Stratus b) Alto Cumulus c) Cumulonimbus

Question 26. What type of fuel do most light aircraft use?

a) Jet A1 b) Avgas c) Diesel

Question 27. For an aircraft to TAKE-OFF, the forces required are:

a) Thrust greater than Drag and Lift greater then Weight

b) Weight greater than Drag andThrust less than Lift

c) Lift less than Drag andDrag greater than Thrust

Question 28. For an aircraft to LAND, the forces required are:

a) Thrust greater than Drag and Lift less than Weight b) Thrust less than Drag and Lift less than Weight c) A pilot pushing on the yoke!

Question 29. What is the segment of landing called prior to Final Approach?

a) Downwind b) Base c) Flare

Question 30. Using the Phonetic alphabet, how is the Panshanger airfield ICAO code EGLG spoken to air traffic control?

a) Edward Ginger Larry Ginger b) E. G. L. G. c) Echo Golf Lima Golf

END

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http://apollo.lsc.vsc.edu/classes/met130/notes/chapter6/graphics/cb_anvil_pictex.g


Map Reading Exercises

All questions refer to the CAA Aeronautical 1:500000 Chart Southern England Edition.

Question 1. What is located at map reference 531653N 0005650W

a) Bovingdon VOR (BNN)b) Gamston VOR (GAM)c) Aberdeen VOR (ADN)

Question 2. What does this chart symbol mean?

a) Aerodrome Traffic Zone (ATZ)b) Control Zone (CTA)c) Military Aerodrome Traffic Zone (MATZ)


a) Beware of birdsb) Bird Sanctuaryc) Bath Time!

Question 4. How far is it between Panshanger (514809N 0000929W) and London Luton airports (515229N 0002206W)?

a) 10 nautical milesb) 9 statue milesc) 9 nautical miles


a) A Glider airfield with 2½ glidersb) A Glider airfield with tow launch to 2500 feetc) A Glider airfield with launch cable up to 2500 feet

Question 6. What city is at map reference 524033N 0011658E?

a) Londonb) Norwichc) Manchester

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Question 7. What radio frequency do you need to call if you want to cross Danger Area D001?

a) St Mawgan 128.725b) St Mawgan 121.25c) London Information 124.75

Question 8. How far is it between Oxford (515013N 0011912W) and Birmingham (522713N 0014452W) airfields?

a) 100 nautical milesb) 40 statue milesc) 40 nautical miles

Question 9. What True heading would you need to fly on that route?

a) 336 oTb) 156 oTc) 300 oT


a) Railway Lineb) Major Road with Service Stationc) Mmm! Sweets!

Question 11. On CAA 1:500000 aeronautical charts, what does 1 inch represent?

a) 500,000 inches b) 1 nautical milec) 1 km


a) Lighthouse built in 1978b) Exceptionally high Obstacle (lighted)c) High Intensity Radio Transmission Area

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Word Search

Can you find the following words in the grid below?

AILERONS COCKPIT ELEVATORENGINE FLAPS FUELFUSELAGE GEAR JETLANDING GEAR NOSE PROPELLERRADAR RADIO RUDDERTAIL THROTTLE WINGS

N H B Z S F T M W M C N R R N Z R O C BC E Q G Z A J O Q T Y H J B A S O C Z OQ O N R I P W J M E E L Q T N D T K D SG I C L V H F T H R O T T L E L A X N GW E H K S P A L F U X N R G S M V R M TN H A S P R E L L E P O R P M Q E K G OS J N R G I U E W I L C R F F V L T S SI N M X Y J T E J E B I Y A I I E N S IP H O S I R Q E P P L L F B U L S F G EI I F R U P K M F A P N R Y R S G H V EJ M U D E A Y E N S M S O O Y V B T E JZ T D L F L G D P U C H I H C C U P B XQ E W I C A I D Z B T R D D O R B X W FR N P V L N F A W V N O A E X H R S A XD I B E G E L I N R O R R E Z Y V D X MG A S G B W U O J N S F D N D Z C Z I LV U E U L U X S L O E O W G U O S M D GF A T Z U X E W W N Y A K I I L C V K LR F U E L M P P Q D H O W N B R H K P ER O H T K K X P C D S L R E X Z E D Z T

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Aircraft PartsCrossword

Down1. Parts of aeroplanes which provide lift and support the entire weight of the aircraft.2. Movable sections of the wing used in making turns.4. Rotating blade on the front of an aeroplane.6. Where the pilot sits.

Across3. Movable sections on the wings which slow down the aeroplane.5. Movable section of the aeroplane which causes it to move up and down.7. Body of an aeroplane.8. Movable section of the tail which controls lateral movement.

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About Panshanger Aerodrome

Panshanger aerodrome historyPanshanger aerodrome was built in WWII as a "decoy aerodrome" with a factory made by film set experts, complete with dummy aircraft, cars ,smoking chimneys and deliberate 'black out leaks' in a switch operated configuration. Those measures were aimed at diverting German bombers away from Hatfield. It was so successful, that many of our own pilots landed at Panshanger by mistake! In the early forties RAF Elementary Flight Training School was based in Panshanger and within few months, real buildings began to replace the canvas and scaffolding dummies. In the early fifties the RAF had pulled out and Panshanger aerodrome become a civilian airport, and is serving General Aviation needs ever since.

Panshanger aerodrome todayAs one of the only two licensed aerodromes left in Hertfordshire, North London Flying School at Panshanger aerodrome is the ideal environment to take flying lessons as a budding pilot in light aircraft or helicopters.

Our Licensed grass runway 11/29 is 972 x 26 m with an elevation of 250 feet above mean sea level (AMSL). Runway 11 take-off run available (TORA) of 857m and Landing Distance Available (LDA) of 888m and Runway 29 TORA is 948m and LDA is 788m. The runway can accommodate single engine aircraft and many light twins.

Today we have 4 x Piper Arrow, 2 x Cessna 172, 6 x Piper Archer, 3 x Piper Lance, 1 x Extra 300 and 1 x Pitts Special aircraft using Panshanger as their base. We have 450 members of the flying club, and 7 flying instructors.

The North London Flying School provides gift voucher flight experiences which can include a trial lesson, a flip in an aerobatic aircraft or a helicopter ride. Pilot training for those wishing to acquire their pilots licence in aircraft and helicopter can be achieved here. Panshanger has a friendly atmosphere whilst ensuring your experience is conducted in a safe environment.

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A Brief History of AviationMan has always been fascinated by the prospect of flight. Birds’ speed, freedom of direction and the elimination of delay caused by natural obstacles, created a curiosity that sparked early enthusiasts to explore and imitate the wonder of flight.

The human history of aviation dates well before the 1800s with more than fifty documented endeavours in flight. In one of the first investigations in aerodynamics, Leonardo da Vinci invented the airscrew and parachute in the 16th century. The artist also had visions and drew diagrams of a helicopter, glider and ornithopter even though he may not have actually created, or built, the devices.

The Montgolfier’s, two French brothers, succeeded in 1783 in creating the first true apparatus to “fly” when they created a linen, fire powered balloon that floated along for more than five miles.

The first bona fide, patented plans for an aeroplane with an engine were developed in 1843 by William S. Henderson, although the plane was not actually capable of flying. But due to the extensive experiments and successive developments in aerodynamics, it was not long after that the concept of true aviation was truly ready to “take off.”

A heavier-than-air design, called the glider, first made flight a reality. While the glider had been invented in 1804 by a British inventor, George Cayley, the first glider pilot was Otto Lilienthal. Fuelled by his efforts and success, other inventors continued to improve on Lilienthal’s design.

In 1848, John Stringfellow created a small, steam powered model plane that was capable of ‘brief flight’. Then in the

1890s, again using a small steam power craft, an American scientist, Samuel P. Langley, attempted a piloted flight. However, after two failed attempts, the project was terminated.

It was during the early 1900s when the actual turning point for aviation occurred and two determined brothers from Dayton, Ohio struggled to make their dream of flight a reality.

Orville and Wilbur Wright disregarded several failed attempts to fly and persevered in their seemingly unattainable goal. Using a common glider airframe, they created the Kitty Hawk Flyer, named after the area on the Outer Banks of North Carolina where they tested their aeroplanes.

While their first attempt at flight failed, they were successful on December 17, 1903, when the first legitimate powered flight lasted 12 seconds. The Wright Brothers went on to chronicle approximately 1,000 flights during a four-year period on the sand dunes of North Carolina. As a result, the Wright Brothers ushered in a new era of flight and the “air age” was born.

Shortly thereafter, in 1905, the first aircraft company was created by two French fliers, Charles and Gabriel Voisin while Glenn Curtis was

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founding the first US aeroplane company in New York. In 1909, two more American companies were formed -- one by Glenn Martin and the other by the Wright Brothers whose Wright Company began assembling military planes.

Although there was great reluctance to use aviation for commercial use, various governments foresaw the potential of aeroplanes capabilities including services they could offer during wartime. As World War I approached, warplane production rose and improvements in aerodynamics, aircraft construction and motor power increased. During the First Air War, aircraft speeds increased to 130 mph and aerial battles were known to take place at the unbelievable altitude of 19,000 ft.

After the war the abundance of warplanes enabled them to be converted for commercial use and the U.S. Post Office began using aviation to its benefit with the introduction of “airmail” in 1918. This provided enhanced efficiency and service while decreasing coast-to-coast

deliveries by 22 hours.

With aviation’s continued advancements, 1927 marked the completion of the first non-stop, continent-to-continent flight by Charles Lindbergh when he flew from New Jersey to Paris in 33 hours generating strong support for aviation. People were no longer afraid to fly and the number of passengers dramatically increased as did private investments into the aviation industry.

In the modern era, aviation has broadened opportunities worldwide and has made our world increasingly smaller while it has allowed numerous technological advancements. Indeed, recent years have introduced further growth in aviation exemplified by the Global Hawk which, in 2001, was the first plane to achieve the status of the longest point-to-point flight by an unmanned aircraft. Further, 2003 marked the first century of aviation and a celebration of its incredible contribution to the world when an

autonomous flight, using a computer-controlled model aircraft, took place by crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

Aviation has enabled us to view and experience our world from amazing and advancing perspectives. It has even given rise to space travel and the exploration of stars and plants that could only be seen through telescopes a few decades ago. Time will tell what new, exciting progress will evolve as the sky is no longer the limit and distant galaxies may be a goal within our lifetimes.

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How aircraft flyEvery day millions of people board aircraft headed for destinations around the world. It's puzzling how an aircraft made of metal, much heavier than air, can safely and effortlessly lift hundreds of passengers miles into the sky and propel them at speeds over 500 knots to points thousands of miles away.

For an aircraft to fly, it must always engage in a tug of war between the opposing forces of lift versus weight and thrust versus drag. Every student pilot is first taught about these four forces acting upon an aircraft in flight. The downward force of weight must be overcome by an upward acting aerodynamic force called lift. This is true of aeroplanes and helicopters.

The wing lifts the aircraft by producing an air pressure above the wing which is lower than that below the wing. This lower pressure pulls or lifts the aircraft upward. In the 1700s a Swiss mathematician named Daniel Bernoulli discovered the principle of a venturi, or that as the velocity of a fluid increases, the pressure it exerts on its surroundings decreases. The basis for this is in the conservation of energy of an airstream. The potential energy of a gas is proportional to its pressure, just like a compressed spring. As the speed of the air is increased the kinetic energy increases, resulting in a potential energy or pressure decrease to conserve the total energy.

A wing has a curved upper surface referred to as camber. Air molecules travelling over the top of the wing are forced to speed up by this camber in the same way air molecules in a venturi are sped up. The increased airstream speed over the top of the wing decreases the air pressure and produces the lift necessary to overcome weight.

In order for the airstream to be pushed over the wing, the aircraft must be pushed through the atmosphere. On the takeoff roll, the aircraft accelerates until reaching a speed with sufficient airflow over the wings to produce the required lift.

An aeroplane in flight is the centre of a continuous tug of war between four forces: lift, gravity force or weight, thrust, and drag. The weight pulls down on the plane opposing the lift created by air flowing over the wing. Thrust is generated by the propeller and opposes drag caused by air resistance to the frontal area of the aeroplane. During take off, thrust must overcome drag and lift must overcome the weight before the aeroplane can become airborne. In level flight at constant speed, thrust exactly equals drag and lift exactly equals the weight or gravity force. For landings thrust must be reduced below the level of drag and lift below the level of the gravity force or weight.

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Components of an aircraftThe major components of an aeroplane are:

the fuselage; the wings; the tail assembly; the flying controls; the landing gear (or undercarriage); the engine and propeller

Fuselage, wings, tailplane, finThe fuselage forms the body of the aeroplane to which the wings, tail, engine and landing gear are attached. It contains a cabin with seats for the Pilot and passengers, plus the cockpit controls and instruments and may also contain baggage lockers.

The fuselage of many modern training aircraft is of semi-monocoque construction, a light framework covered by a skin (usually aluminium) that carries much of the stress.

The wings are designed to generate lift and are exposed to heavy loads, well in excess of the total weight of the aeroplane in manoeuvres. Wings generally have one or more internal spars attached to the fuselage and extending to the wingtips. The spars carry the major loads, which are upward bending where the lift is generated and downward bending where they support the fuselage and the wing fuel tanks. Wing Flaps are fitted on the inner trailing edges and are lowered in unison to increase the lifting ability of the wing, or to increase its drag.

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The tail plane is generally built similar to the wings and consists of a vertical and horizontal stabiliser to which the rudder and elevator are attached. The elevator (and, on some aircraft, the rudder) will have a trim tab. This enables the Pilot to remove prolonged loads on the controls aerodynamically. This makes the aircraft easier to fly.

Primary flying controlsWhenever an aircraft changes its flight attitude or position in flight, it rotates about one or more of three axes, which are imaginary lines that pass through the aeroplane’s centre of gravity. The axes of an aeroplane can be considered as imaginary axles around which the aeroplane turns, much like the axle around which a wheel rotates. The primary flying controls let the pilot control the aircraft movement around these axes.

The main flight controls (elevator, ailerons and rudder) are operated from the cockpit, usually via an internal system of cables and pulleys.

The elevator is located on the trailing edge of the horizontal stabiliser and controls pitch—movement about the aeroplane’s lateral axis. The elevator moves up and down when you apply back or forward pressure on the control yoke or stick. The elevator controls the aircraft's pitch attitude, but it doesn't really make the aeroplane climb or descend. An aeroplane needs power to climb.

Ailerons are located at the ends of the wings and control bank, or roll, about an aeroplane’s longitudinal axis. You control the ailerons by moving the control yoke or stick left and right. The ailerons move in opposite directions.

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The rudder controls yaw movement about an aeroplane’s vertical axis. The rudder does NOT turn the aeroplane. Its primary functions are to maintain co-ordinated flight during turns and to counteract an aeroplane’s left-turning tendency. The rudder is a hinged control surface attached to the trailing edge of the vertical stabiliser. You control the rudder by pressing pedals in the cockpit.

The landing gear (or undercarriage) supports the weight of the aeroplane when it is on the ground and may be of either the tricycle type with a nosewheel or the tailwheel type. Most tricycle landing gear aeroplanes are fitted with nosewheel steering through the rudder pedals and almost all aeroplanes have main wheel brakes. Advanced aeroplanes have a retractable landing gear; most training aeroplanes have a fixed landing gear.

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The Engine and PropellerMost aeroplane engines are of the four stroke variety. The engines can be arranged in any number of ways with four, six or eight cylinders. The most usual configuration is the flat four (or horizontally opposed) engine. The four stroke engine is so called because of the four strokes in one complete cycle.

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A piston engine requires a propeller to convert the power output of the engine into thrust. The power is developed by the piston engine, and is transmitted to the propeller, via a shaft, as engine torque or 'turning effect'. This is used to rotate the propeller, which converts most of this turning effect into a pull or push force, called thrust. The propeller does this by generating forces due to its motion through the air

The propeller pulls the aeroplane through the air by generating a basically horizontal Lift force which we call Thrust.

The Cockpit and Aircraft InstrumentsFlight instruments enable an aeroplane to be operated with maximum performance and enhanced safety, especially when flying long distances. Manufacturers provide the necessary flight instruments, but to use them effectively, pilots need to understand precisely how they operate.

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There are many flight instruments, each with a specific purpose. There is a high level of redundancy in the instruments such that if one fails, the Pilot can usually determine all the information needed to keep flying from the other instruments and gauges.

The pilot must be fully familiar with the Pilots Operating Handbook (POH) which is unique to a specific aircraft and details all the instruments, performance graphs, thrust, weight, balance, centre of gravity calculations, warnings, normal, and emergency procedures information for a particular aircraft.

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How Do Pilots Navigate?Have you ever wondered how aircraft know how to get where they are going? There are no road signs in the sky, and even if there were, they would be hidden behind clouds. So how do pilots know how to guide aircraft around the world?

Air navigation is the process of piloting an aircraft from one geographic position to another while monitoring one’s position as the flight progresses. It introduces the need for planning, which includes plotting the course on an aeronautical chart, selecting checkpoints, measuring distances, obtaining pertinent weather information, and computing flight time, headings, and fuel requirements. Most light aircraft pilots use dead-reckoning techniques - navigating by reference to visible landmarks using aeronautical charts, with computations of direction and distance from a known position; commercial airlines always use radio navigation - by use of radio aids.

The most common type of radio navigation system uses a Very High Frequency Omni-directional Radio Range, or VOR, which can be explained by using a lighthouse metaphor. Imagine a light beam timed to pass through due north every minute exactly on the minute. At this precise instant, an omni-directional strobe light atop the lighthouse is sequenced to flash. If one sees the flash and beacon simultaneously, they must be exactly to the north of the station. If the delay between the light flashes is 15 seconds, they are due east, 30 seconds, south, and so on. In actuality, the VOR uses two Very High Frequency (VHF) radio signals of differing phase shifts to accomplish the task of the lights. VOR is the backbone of the airspace system's network of airways, the highways in the sky used by airliners as well as by general aviation aeroplanes. Military aircraft use a similar system on the Ultra High Frequency (UHF).

When close to its destination airport, commercial airliners and some light aircraft use an instrument landing system (ILS) similar to the VOR, which can provide guidance right down to the runway. The pilot is provided headings, called vectors, from air traffic control radar facilities when transitioning from en route airways to the ILS final approach course. This precision guidance tells the pilot not only whether the aircraft is to the left or right of centreline but also whether it is too high or too low in the glide path (glide slope). The radar controllers also keep aircraft flying in the clouds a safe distance apart.

The most recent development in navigation is the Global Positioning System (GPS), which uses a network of orbiting satellites. The receiver measures the time it takes for the signal to reach the aircraft from the satellite. Because the signal travels at the speed of light, the distance from the satellite can be computed. By analysing signals received from several satellites, an exact three-dimensional position can be determined anywhere in the world, to within a matter of feet.

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Basic Calculations for dead-reckoning flightsBefore a cross-country flight, a pilot should make common calculations for time, speed, and distance, and the amount of fuel required.

Pilots use a basic calculation of Ground S peed = D istance / T ime

Converting minutes to equivalent hoursIt frequently is necessary to convert minutes into equivalent hours when solving speed, time, and distance problems. To convert minutes to hours, divide by 60 (60 minutes = 1 hour). Thus, 30 minutes 30/60 = 0.5 hour. To convert hours to minutes, multiply by 60. Thus, 0.75 hour equals 0.75 x 60 = 45 minutes.

Time T = D/GSTo find the time (T) in flight, divide the distance (D) by the groundspeed (GS). The time to fly 210 nautical miles at a groundspeed of 140 knots is 210 divided by 140, or 1.5 hours. (The 0.5 hour multiplied by 60 minutes equals 30 minutes.) Answer: 1:30.

Distance D = GS x TTo find the distance flown in a given time, multiply groundspeed by time. The distance flown in 1 hour 45 minutes at a groundspeed of 120 knots is 120 x 1.75, or 210 nautical miles.

Groundspeed GS = D/TTo find the groundspeed, divide the distance flown by the time required. If an aeroplane flies 270 nautical miles in 3 hours, the groundspeed is 270 divided by 3 = 90 knots.

Fuel ConsumptionAircraft fuel consumption is typically computed in gallons per hour. Therefore, to determine the fuel required for a given flight, the time required for the flight must be known. Time in flight multiplied by rate of consumption gives the quantity of fuel required. For example, a flight of 400 NM at a groundspeed of 100 knots requires 4 hours. If the aircraft consumes 5 gallons an hour, the total consumption will be 4 x 5, or 20 gallons.

The rate of fuel consumption depends on many factors: condition of the engine, propeller pitch, propeller r.p.m., richness of the mixture, and particularly the percentage of horsepower used for flight at cruising speed. The pilot should know the approximate consumption rate from cruise performance charts, or from experience. In addition to the amount of fuel required for the flight, there should be sufficient fuel for reserve.

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How to become a PilotMany young people dream of becoming a pilot, perhaps flying the most modern airline aircraft around the skies. For most, it remains a pipedream, but it is a dream that can be fulfilled – for those who are determined. For all of civil aviation, and most of military aviation, there are equal opportunities for men and women. There are basically two routes for learning to fly:

1. Learning to fly with the Armed ServicesGet into one of the Armed Services (Navy, Marines, Army or RAF) as a trainee pilot. This is open to young people from 17-24. But only a limited number of trainee pilots are taken on each year. To be accepted, applicants should have five GCSEs (including Maths and English), two A levels or equivalent and/or a degree.

Vacancies are few and competition is fierce. You make an application and go through a rigorous three-day selection process including IQ, leadership and medical tests. Learning to fly privately is very expensive so training with the Armed Services is an excellent way of gaining a wealth of experience at very little cost to you. As a note to those under the age of 18 years, joining the Air Training Corps (ATC) or Combined Cadet Force (CCF), may improve your chances of being selected for the Forces as a Pilot. Also for those at University joining the University Air Squadron Officer Training Corps or the University Naval Unit when at University will significantly increase your chances for Pilot selection in the Forces. Information on becoming an Armed Services trainee pilot can be obtained from any Navy, Army or RAF Careers Office.

2. Learning to fly privatelyAnyone who is over the age of 16 and can afford lessons can learn to fly a single engine piston aircraft and, once you are over the age of 17 and completed the training, you can have your Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL) issued. This is a good step towards getting your professional licence, as not only will you discover if you are suited to the environment, but also you will be credited with 100 hours ground instruction towards the ground study requirements for the Commercial Pilots Licence.

To obtain a Private Pilot’s Licence you will have to pass a Class 2 Medical Examination, have accumulated a minimum of 45 flying hours, pass seven written examinations and take a skills test. Depending on how often you can take the lessons, this will take between six and twelve months and cost around £6,000. This licence enables you to fly in visual conditions. If you wish to fly in instrument conditions, you will need a further qualification, which will cost around £2,000. Additionally, if you wish to fly at night, you will need a night qualification, typically costing around £750. If you decide to fly multiengine aircraft privately, you will need at least 70 hours as Pilot in Command (PIC), a minimum of 6 hours flying training and not less than 7 hours theoretical instruction. You can do your private license at Panshanger.

If you wish to fly a multiengine piston aircraft, you will need at least 70 hours as Pilot in Command (PIC), a minimum of 6 hours flying training and not less than 7 hours theoretical instruction.

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Training to become a Commercial PilotWhen you have your Private Pilot’s Licence you can fly for fun – but not for ‘hire or reward.’ As soon as you want to earn money from commercial flying you must obtain a Commercial Pilot’s Licence (CPL) or obtain all of the theory qualifications and most of the flying qualifications for the Airline Transport Pilot’s Licence (ATPL). The latter qualification is known as a ‘Frozen ATPL’ and may be upgraded to a full ATPL when sufficient flying experience has been obtained.

Before embarking on the costly process of committing yourself to a CPL or ATPL course there is one thing to consider. Can you pass a CAA Class One Medical? You might feel completely fit, but there are conditions that do not affect everyday life and might not even affect flying privately, but which will stop you flying commercially. Many of these conditions involve eyesight. The eyes do not need to be perfect, but conditions such as colour deficiency are not compatible with professional flying. To avoid wasted money and time, it is possible (and recommended) to undergo a Class One Medical tests before commencing any training, even for the PPL if you intend to proceed from the PPL to commercial flying. A Class One Medical is valid for the PPL medical as well. You will need to remain reasonably fit throughout your flying career. Although you can fly commercially until the age of 65, you must be able to pass a renewal medical every year, (or six months, depending on age and type of licence).

Details of obtaining an ATPL are not included here for space reasons, but can be gathered from most flying school web sites.

The Jobs AvailableOnce you have achieved a licence, what jobs are open to you? With an ATPL the range is almost limitless. Your chances of being hired however are entirely down to supply and demand. You can be the greatest pilot in the world, but if there are no vacancies, it may take some time to obtain employment as a Pilot.

However, do not get disheartened. It is very common for employers in this business to be convinced that they need no one extra on Friday only to find that the whole situation has changed by Monday. If you are in the right place at the right time with the right qualifications, the job could be yours.

There are pros and cons with different types of flying. Charter airlines tend to work their pilots very hard in the summer with winters quiet. Quality of life on long-haul flying tends to be less hectic, so long as the pilot does not mind being away from home for days at a time, and can cope with the time zone changes. Scheduled flying is popular because there tends to be fewer delays due to airport slot problems, and night flying is restricted because businessmen are sensible enough not to want to be sitting in an aeroplane at four in the morning. On the other hand, there can be less variety of flying than in charter flying. Turboprop aircraft are seen, rightly or wrongly, as less demanding than jets, and this is reflected in the salaries. Generally speaking, a Captain on a turboprop will be paid the same as a Co-Pilot on a jet. However, it is apparent that turboprop aircraft opportunities are diminishing as companies reequip with smaller regional jets.

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There are many non-mainstream ways of earning a living from flying. Examples are banner- towing, ferry-flying, bush flying in remote areas, and agricultural flying in equally remote areas. Some jobs exist flying corporate aircraft but these are rarely advertised - as is the case with most of the “better jobs”. News gets around by word of mouth.

Promotion to Captain in many of the established airlines depends on seniority, suitability and vacancies. The trick is to get accepted by an airline which is expanding but is not going to go bust. Minimum flying hours to become a Captain are usually in the region of 5,000, which will take an average commercial pilot some seven to ten years to achieve.

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Phonetic AlphabetWhen pilots speak to air traffic control, the phonetic alphabet is used to overcome any radio noise or pilot / controller accents. See if you can learn the phonetic alphabet.

A ALPHAB BRAVOC CHARLIED DELTAE ECHOF FOXTROTG GOLFH HOTELI INDIAJ JULIETK KILOL LIMAM MIKEN NOVEMBERO OSCARP PAPAQ QUEBECR ROMEOS SIERRAT TANGOU UNIFORMV VICTORW WHISKEYX X-RAYY YANKEEZ ZULU

0 ZERO1 ONE2 TOO3 TREE4 FOWER5 FIFE6 SIX7 SEVEN8 EIGHT9 NINER

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Marshalling Signals

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Identify Gate / Face Me Proceed to next Signalman

Start Engine

Straight Ahead Turn Left

Turn Right Normal Stop Emergency Stop Set Brake

Release Brake

Stop Engine Slow Down

Chocks Inserted Chocks Removed

Affirmative / All Clear

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