That is what I think most of us do in real life, though my calculations concern more about fuel usage than ETA to tell you the truth. However, on the checkride, I do not think the DPE will accept that as a procedure, and thus the OP's concern.
Also, how long do you guys spend making your flight plans? I typically spend around 2+ hours putting together the route, complete with checkpoints and ETE/wind calcs, as well as familiarizing myself with the destination airports and other factors involving the flight (around 3 once I get my standard briefing and go over the plan one last time). Does this seem like too long or is it about what you guys spend? By the way, I tend to try not to use my GPS--that's too easy
Also, how long do you guys spend making your flight plans? I typically spend around 2+ hours putting together the route, complete with checkpoints and ETE/wind calcs, as well as familiarizing myself with the destination airports and other factors involving the flight (around 3 once I get my standard briefing and go over the plan one last time). Does this seem like too long or is it about what you guys spend? By the way, I tend to try not to use my GPS--that's too easy
As in many things, what we do during training and what is done in actuality are two different things. I do not think anyone should give you flack for using everything including the modern electronic devices for flight planning. However, like you also say being prepared to know what to do when they fail is also important. I typically will fly one flight a month without any modern devices(which is not as easy as it sounds in a G1000 plane) and fly by dead reckoning. I find it fun and educational and helps me keep my sectional reading skills current. I probably could do the same with my flight simulator but it leaves a lot to desire.
Also, how long do you guys spend making your flight plans? I typically spend around 2+ hours putting together the route, complete with checkpoints and ETE/wind calcs, as well as familiarizing myself with the destination airports and other factors involving the flight (around 3 once I get my standard briefing and go over the plan one last time). Does this seem like too long or is it about what you guys spend? By the way, I tend to try not to use my GPS--that's too easy
Can I use my Rand McNally and ground references. If not I would be lucky if was off only by 10 miles at the end. For me, the variables to account for specifically changes in wind speed and direction, and the inherent instability of my magnetic compass to do this with any accuracy. I do this with my HSI at least once a month, or sometimes just use ground references and not use my compass at all to fly for practice. It becomes easy of course if you are familiar with where you are, more difficult if you are not.Well, for my hot shot fellow pilots on here, how about a challenge?
How well can you fly a compass heading for 120 miles (roughly)?
1. Lay out a straight course on the sectional that is about an hour and ten minutes - give or take.
Have the end point of the course be easily identifiable from the air - and not in controlled airspace where ATC will be vectoring you.
2. Make a first check point roughly ten minutes from takeoff.
3. Remember to get out ye old E6B and calculate your on course heading and ground speed, complete with wind correction prior to take off. (Electronic is OK, but not as sporting!)
4. When you reach first check point use that to fine-tune your on course heading and actual ground speed.
5. NOW fly that final heading for an hour by the clock - or whatever your CALCULATED time is - and then turn to the final check point and use time to measure the distance you were off. (Can also use GPS to measure, or whatever)
How did you do?
Oooh, oooh, oooh, did I remember to mention -
NO gyros - gotta follow the swinging whiskey compass.
NO autopilot
Cover the GPS screen - I won't make you find your way home by compass.
And turn the sectional over after the first check point.
This is a flying test not a chart reading test.
A couple of points.
On a 60 mile leg being off to one side by one mile is one degree of accuracy.
On a one hour leg, roughly 120 miles, being within one mile laterally would be one-half degree in accuracy.
Those of you with faster planes may want to cut the time down to stay roughly within the 120 miles for easy calculation of accuracy.
How did you do on ground speed?
This guys, and gal, is real flying
Also, how long do you guys spend making your flight plans? I typically spend around 2+ hours putting together the route, complete with checkpoints and ETE/wind calcs, as well as familiarizing myself with the destination airports and other factors involving the flight (around 3 once I get my standard briefing and go over the plan one last time). Does this seem like too long or is it about what you guys spend? By the way, I tend to try not to use my GPS--that's too easy
Murphey said:
Yeah, but be careful even so! I know of a pilot who launched from the Chicago area to an airport about 350NM away. He misread a 0 for an O and headed for an airport that was off about 16 degrees and 50NM from his intended destination. I'm sure he had done an initial guesstimate on heading and time en route, but those values are within the noise on an estimation like that. Unfortunately, he came into the wrong airport right around sunset, and the correct airport, a grass strip, didn't have lighting, and he'd never been there before!
