What Is Examined?

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Navigation examination tests primarily Unit 1.7.3 of Schedule 3 of the
MOS, but may include items from earlier Units, which are common to both
the Helicopter and Aeroplane. In particular the following items:
• Item 2.1 Navigation Charts.
• Item 2.2 Time Zones.
• Item 2.3 Flight Instruments.
• Item 2.4 Compasses
• Item 2.5 Radio Wave propagation
• Item 2.6 Radio Navigation Aids.
• Item 2.7 Route Navigation.
• Item 2.8 Basic Radar Principles.
• Additional Items from PPL & CPL Navigation may be included.

1.2 The examination will have a mixture of questions on general knowledge and
‘practical’ problems.

1.2.1 ‘Practical’ questions may be based on any appropriate item of the manual of
standards.
1.2.2 Questions are typical of those involving high altitude, high speed aircraft on
domestic and international flights.

2 PRACTICAL NAVIGATION

2.1 Candidates may be required to refer to a specific route on an En Route Chart (ERC) High or Low, PCA and/or a Terminal Area Chart (TAC). Candidates are to supply these charts.

2.2 Practical navigation questions may contain a reference to Route Sector Wind and Temperature (RSWT) or Grid Point Wind and Temperature (GPWT) forecasts.

2.3 Winds, other than those presented in a recognised forecast format, will be annotated T (true) or M (magnetic). 2.4 RVSM. Candidates are to assume that the ‘examination aircraft’ is not RVSM-approved, but has been cleared to operate in all RVSM airspace in accordance with conventional IFR cruising levels.

3 CRITICAL POINT (CP), POINT OF NO RETURN (PNR) AND POINT OF SAFE DIVERSION (PSD)
3.1 CP has the same meaning as Equi-Time Point (ETP)
3.2. The term PNR is used for situations where the return flight is to an on-track
aerodrome, either the departure point or an alternate aerodrome.
3.3 The term PSD or LPSD is used for situations where flight from the
PSD is to an off-track alternate aerodrome.
3.4 The term ‘safe endurance’ used in a PNR or PSD problem means endurance
remaining excluding reserves of fuel (or equivalent time). The term ‘total
endurance’ means endurance remaining including reserves of fuel (or
equivalent time).
3.5 When total endurance is specified in a question the required reserves to be
allowed will be specified [e.g. Variable Reserve (VR) 10% of safe endurance
and Fixed Reserve (FR) 30 minutes].
3.6 CP, PNR and PSD calculations may involve normal and abnormal operations.
3.7 Descent to an aerodrome may be ignored when determining the position of a CP, PNR or PSD.

4 AVERAGE DATA
4.1 Average data may be used where appropriate. Candidates should exercise
their discretion as to whether the use of average data would be appropriate
or a more detailed calculation should be made.
4.1.1 Generally, in calculations which cover more than one zone of a flight, as in
CP, PNR and PSD problems, the use of average data may be appropriate. Any
of the common methods of averaging data such as winds and temperatures are
suitable for examinations purposes