How do pilots follow a route?
This is an informative article that explains how pilots follow a route.
If the pilots are flying from one destination to another, it is done according to a certain plan or route that has been prepared previously. But how do pilots orient along these routes and where to fly further? It is a little bit of technology, more planning, charts and maps, some cockpit instruments, and the age-old art of pilotage.
Flight Planning
Pilots make a flight plan before they set off on a journey, to determine which way they will be flying. This entails such things as departure airport, destination airport, intermediate points, altitudes, expected duration, fuel requirements, and many others. When laying down the route, pilots have to factor in air traffic, ground features, the weather, the performance of their aircraft, etc.
With technological advancement, most of the commercial flight planning nowadays involves using computers with preprogrammed software that can determine the most suitable routings based on several parameters at a go. It can then be further refined by the pilots on their own based on experience and their discretion. This will go through an air traffic control for approval after it has been finalized.
Navigation Charts
Pilots have a set of navigation charts and maps that depict aeronautical facilities such as airports, radio aids to navigation, routes, special use areas, and ground relief. These charts assist pilots in locating the points of reference on the ground and the waypoints, airways, and headings to take when flying the route.
Some of the key chart types include:
- As stated in the following subtopics, Terminal Area Charts include airport plans and approach or departure paths.
- Route Low Altitude Charts: These charts show further details of low altitude routings.
- Enroute High Altitude Charts: provides greater detail of higher altitude route plans
- Area Charts: Contribute to orientation within the vicinity
Pilots memorize these charts before they proceed on a flight to know the general flight direction they are likely to follow. When in flight, charts are an auxiliary or a backup confirmation tool. Some airplanes are even substituting paper maps with modern electronic flight bag tablets and other navigation apps available.
Using Radio Navigation
Navigation using radio aids is the traditional method of flight navigation. These baseinstalled equipment send out signals that the pilots can select on the airplane to get their locations.
VORs are very high-frequency omnidirectional ranges that beam courses in 360 degrees that pilots travel on, likened to freeways. Nondirectional beacons (NDB) give a directional indication of the course to be flown in the direction of the station. Other radio aids including distance measuring equipment (DME) and tactical air navigation (TACAN) give distance and location information.
From this instrument and using the charts, pilots can switch between the two navaids and get an identification of the location as well as follow the path from one point to the other. Airliners also use inertial reference systems as a second means of receiving uninterrupted position data when they move out of range of radio fixes.
Flying Airways
A major part of aviation navigation entails maintaining a course and route that is defined by the so-called airways: quite akin to freeways of the skies. These air highways have prescribed or standardized communication frequencies, navigation aid frequencies, reporting points, heights, and directions between radio bearings. While operating commercial airline flights generally involve the use of airway routings for the majority of a journey.
Thus, employing various instruments such as VOR indicators, pilots ensure the airplane remains in line with the airway's central path. Heading along the airway from one waypoint to the other entails changes in the heading and altitude to accommodate the wind, traffic, turbulence, and other factors that are likely to affect the aircraft when in the air. About airports, flights move from the airways to other routes and processes.
GPS Navigation
Technological advancements continuing into the twenty-first century have seen GPS satellite navigation becoming a standard feature in aviation. The aircraft contains GPS receivers that provide accurate latitude, longitude, altitude, and ground speed information.
This position information from space-based systems eliminates the need to solely depend on radio aids from the ground for point-to-point navigation. Pilots enter latitude/longitude waypoints of the flight plan into a GPS navigator which shows the active route, ground track, and aim.
GPS is far less restricted in providing flexible ways to establish individual, optimized routes for any point A to point B rather than radio aid alignment. It is also helpful as a supplement to radio-based positioning and routes to ensure that nothing is overlooked or misunderstood. There are however some drawbacks with GPS that include; Interference: anything that interferes with the satellite signals will lead to a compromise in integrity such as signal loss, database problems, or power failure.
Cockpit Navigation Instruments
Pilots monitor a suite of flight deck instruments that provide continual route and navigation information: Pilots monitor a suite of flight deck instruments that provide continual route and navigation information:
Attitude indicator: This instrument displays pitch, bank, and the orientation of the aircraft about gravity.
Altimeter: Shows the height above sea level.
Airspeed indicator: Has the function of displaying the actual airspeed of the aircraft.
Vertical speed: It shows the rate of climb or descent.
Heading indicator It gives information about the direction in which the aircraft is moving.
Turn coordinator: Assists in the safe management of coordinated turns.
Collectively these instruments inform the pilot of altitude, indicated airspeed, horizon tilt, vertical profile, and ground track: all informative for progress along the planned route. These instruments are crosschecked to ensure on-course direction and to ascertain correction required etc.
Pilotage and Visual Reference
Modern cockpits have come a long way in their design and functionality, but pilots still practice basic pilotage skills: aviating by references outside the cockpit. In flying over areas closer to airports or over the ground, crews can confirm their location by identifying landmarks, geographical features, urban and rural landscapes, architecture, water sources, or any other recognizable feature.
Pilots may need to use the pilotage more often during the takeoff and landing phases which requires more positional awareness. Sighting the runway or the airport environment by eye helps to give a reality check that can confirm or eliminate discrepancies with the instruments. Visual pilotage also entails creating sound situation awareness that can be used to navigate.
In Conclusion
Cockpit attitude, flight planning as well as backup aids together with the flight instruments ensure that the pilot moves from the origin point to the destination point with ease. Radio aids, GPS satellites, airways, and combined instruments provide an additional guarantee about the exact positioning en route. Since automation is now the dominant way of flying, basic flying skills such as navigation, systems control, and decision-making are still important to monitor, confirm, and proceed with the route in a step-by-step manner.