Navigation Plotting Questions With Answers
Navigation Plotting Questions With Answers
PLOTTING QUESTIONS
1. Overhead Cookhouse HDG 030º (C), Compass DEV +2º East, Drift 10º Right, VAR. 22º
West. Track Made Good is:
a. 000º T
b. 016º T
c. 020º T.
* c * l * a * 1 * Track Made Good * Use CDMVT for this one, and you get a True Hdg of 010°. If you
have corrected for 10° Right drift, this would have been 10° to the left. Drift is always from Hdg to
Track so 010 Hdg = 10° R Dr = 020° Track. Answer C. *
2. Airplane overhead HARARE at FL070 and climbing to FL180 at a mean rate of climb of
600 ft/min. RAS 160 kts, Temp DEV = ISA +10ºC. The mean TAS on the climb is:
a. 193 kts
b. 197 kts
c. 202 kts.
* c * l * c * 2 * Mean TAS on climb * Climbing at constant RAS needs 2/3 of the height change.
Height change is 11000, so 2/3 is 7333 ft plus the 7000 at the start. The height at which TAS must be
calculated is therefore 14333 ft. The temp at that height in ISA should be -13,4°C, so with a deviation
of +10 the temp to use is -3,4°C. Enter the info into the Pathfinder and you get a TAS of 202,3 kts.
Answer C. *
3. An aircraft flies from A to B in 2 hrs 20 min. Dist 588 nm, TAS 288 kts. In order to fly from
B to A in 2 hrs 27 min, the TAS for the return flight should be:
a. 240 kts
b. 252 kts
c. 204 kts.
4. Airplanes A and B are both flying on the same track and are initially 72 nm apart. GS of A is 288
kts. Airplane A passes B after 1 hr 20 min. The GS of B is:
a. 248,7 mph
b. 433,6 kph
c. 216,0 kts.
a. 1308 nm
b. 1414 nm
c. 725 nm.
* c * m * a * 2 * Distance flown *
Depart A: 09:00 LMT 31 Jul
Arc W157:04 10:28 West, so UT Best (add)
19:28 UT
The difference between UT Depart and UT Arrive will be flight time, which is 23:40 - 19:28 = 4h 12m.
At a GS of 312 kts this gives a distance flown of 4.2 x 312 = 1310,4 nm. Answer A. *
6. On a Mercator chart the scale is 1:2 000 000 at N35:00. The scale is equal to 1:1 000 000
at Latitude:
a. N65:49
b. N40:35
c. N33:33
* c * l * a * 1 * Scale on Mercator * Use ABBA. Scale denominator at A x Cos Lat B - Scale at B x Cos
A.. In this case 2 000 000 x X = 1 000 000 x Cos 35, or X = 1 000 000 x Cos 35/2 000 000, or 0,409576.
Inverse Cos = 65:49:18. Answer A. *
7. Aircraft A, GS 425 kts, passes over NL at 13:45Z. Aircraft B, at FL310, OAT -40º C, passes
over NL at 13:57Z, overtaking A at 15:39Z. Aircraft B relative closing speed was:
a. 50 kts
b. 75 kts
c. 95 kts.
8. A to B, Distance 159 nm, FL130, OAT-10º C. Tailwind 25 kt. The required RAS to fly from
A to B in 46 min is:
a. 150 kts
b. 170 kts
c. 190 kts.
* c * l * a * 1 * Required RAS calculation * To fly 159 nm in 46 min will require a GS of 207,4 kts.
With a tailwind of 25 kts, the TAS will be 182,4 kts. Use the REQ CAS page on the Pathfinder and
enter the relevant information at the prompts. You will get a Req CAS of 149,8 kts. Answer A. *
9. Forecast wind velocities for a climb to cruise altitude are: W/V 270/20; W/V 315/30;
W/V 360/35. The mean climb W/V is:
a. 324/24
b. 315/28
c. 330/30
* c * l * a * 1 * Mean wind calculation * Either plot the 3 vectors on a sheet of paper, or use the
Hdg/TAS page on the Pathfinder. Enter the first 2 winds, and you get a THdg of 297,2 and a TAS of
46,4. Jot these down, and then enter them again in the top 2 spaces. Then enter the third wind and
the result is 323,7/69.7. remember that there are 3 winds, so divide 69,7 to get the wind speed
(23,23) and the direction will be 323,7. Answer A. *
10. Standard time of sunrise at PARIS, FRANCE (N48:44 E002:22) on 17 February is:
a. 07:56
b. 07:05
c. 06:56
11. An airplane at DR position (S33:55 E028:15) Var 22°, obtains a RMI QDM of 310° from
an NDB (S29:30 E020:30) Var 19°W. The bearing to plot from the NDB on a Lambert’s Chart (CCF
0,5) is:
a. 108°T
b. 112°T
c. 115°T
* c * l * b * 1 * Bearing to plot * The QDM of 310 becomes a QUJ of 288. The reciprocal of 288 is
108, but chart convergency has to be added before it can be plotted from the station. CC = Ch Long x
CCF, or 7,75 x 0,5 = 3,875, or 4°. 108 + 4 = 112 QTE. Answer B. *
12. Position of A is S31:35 E029:46. Position B is on the same parallel of latitude. The great
circle bearing of B from A is 262°. The longitude of B is:
a. E000:47
b. E000:24
c. W000:47
* c * l * c * 1 * Longitude calculation * If the two places are on the same longitude, the rhumb line
track will be 270°. Ca is therefore 8°, so convergency is 16°. Use the formula: C = Ch Long x Sin Lat, or
Ch Long = C/Sin Lat. So X = 16/Sin 31:35 = 30° 32' 58" (30,5496). This is to the west of position A so
E029:46 - 30:33 = - 0:47, which puts position B west of the Greenwich meridian, or W000:47. Answer
C. *
13. A route facility chart has a scale of 1:2 600 000. One cm on the chart is equal to:
a. 12 nm
b. 14 nm
c. 16 nm.
* c * l * b * 1 * Earth distance * A chart length of 1 cm on a chart with a scale of 1 : 2 600 000 will
give an earth distance of 2 600 00 cm. Convert this to nm, using 2,54 cm to the inch, 12 in to the
foot, and 6080 ft to the nm, or use a figure of 185300 cm to the nm. Either way you get just over 14
nm. Answer B. *
14. 13:00 Overhead SISHEN NDB SS (S27:42 E023:00), TAS 230 kts.
14:00 Overhead VICTORIA WEST VOR VWV (S31:24 E023:09).
At 14:00 the aircraft returns to SISHEN. The ETA at SS is:
a. 14:49
b. 14:55
c. 15:00
* c * l * b * 1 * ETA calculation VWY - SS * The distance on the chart between the two places is
about 219 nm. This flown in one hour will also be the GS. If TAS was 230, then there was a HWC of
11 kts. This will be a TWC on the return, so the GS return will be 230 + 11 = 242. 219/241 = 54m 31s,
or 55 min. ETA will be 1400 + 55 = 1455. Answer B. *
15. 09:43Z VICTORIA WEST (S31:24 E023:08) set heading 089º(T) for NEWCASTLE (S27:45
E030:00), FL110. TAS 160 kts.
11:19Z BLOEMFONTEIN VOR BLV (S29:06 E026:19) Radial 110, DME range 17.
ETA for NEW CASTLE is:
a. 12:42
b. 13:04
c. 12:56
16. On track between ALEXANDER BAY (28:34 E016:31) and UPINGTON (S28:24 E021:31).
ALEXANDER BAY radio requires report abeam KEETMANSHOOP VOR KTV (S26:33 E018:00). Variation
at KTV is 17,5°W. When abeam KTV the radial is:
a. 196°
b. 178°
c. 220°
17. At 10;48z aircraft is heading 169°(M) inbound to EAST LONDON ELV (S33:02
E027:53). The ELV VOR/DME indicates radial 349° DME 12 nm. At this point a diversion to PORT
ELIZABETH PEV (S33:58 E025:36) is planned. Assume no wind and variation 23°W. The distance and
initial heading is:
a. 51 min
b. 39 min
c. 43 min.
19. Aircraft overhead EAST LONDON at 09:30Z en route to DURBAN, mean track 041°T,
distance 246 nm, mean W/V 270/45, FL110, OAT -7°C. The RAS that has to be maintained in order to
arrive overhead DURBAN at 10:30Z is:
a. 186 kts
b. 195 kts
c. 204 kts.
* c * m * a * 2 * Required RAS EL - DN * The distance between EL and DN is about 245 nm, and since
the flight time is one hour, this is the required GS. To find RAS we need TAS which we don’t have, so
use the answer options as the come. A RAS of 186 kts, with OAT and P Alt will give a TAS of 218,7 kts.
With W/V and Track this will give a GS of 245,6 kts. Options B and C will give a much higher TAS, and
therefore higher GS, so they are wrong. Answer A. *
20. 15:15 Overhead SELEBI-PIKWE SP (S22:03 E027:48) TAS 240 kts, heading 280°M.
16:30 Overhead GHANZI GZ (S21:41 E021:40). The mean W/V:
a. 125/44
b. 058/46
c. 236/44
* c * l * a * 2 * Mean Wind SP - GZ * The distance between the two places is 340 nm and the
measured required track is 273°T. GS will be 340.1:15 = 272. True heading will be 280°M - 12° W Var
= 268°T. Enter the four values into the Unknown Wind page. Answer A is closest. *
21. 11:21 Overhead GHANZI GZ (S21:41 E021:40), FL180, TAS 170 kts, W/V 250/55 on
direct track to NIEUWOUDTVILLE NVV (S31:21 E019:03). ETA at CAPE TOWN FIR (S27:30) is:
a. 16:36Z
b. 13:50Z
c. 14:02Z
a. 10° right
b. 14° right
c. 19° right
23. 08:15 Overhead WALVIS BAY NDB RK (S23:00 E014:37), TAS 240 kts, heading 017°(T).
08:49 Alter heading 053°(T).
09:29 Overhead GROOTFONTEIN NDB (S19:37 E018:06).
The mean W/V is:
a. 276/36
b. 309/31
c. 354/37
24. Two airplanes depart at 13:00Z from aerodromes 400 nm apart. Airplane A, Track
063° (T), GS 188 kts. Airplane B, Track 243°(T), GS 155 kts. Time at which they cross will be:
a. 14:10Z
b. 14:05Z
c. 14:00Z
25. An aircraft departs from N60:00 E005:00 on a rhumbline track 270°T. After flying 265 nm
it arrives at:
a. E013:50
b. E003:50
c. W003:50
* c * l * c * 1 * New longitude * Departure formula: Dep (in nm) = Ch Long (in minutes) x Cos Lat, or
Ch Long = Dep/Cos Lat, or 265/Cos 60 = 530 minutes/60 = 8° 50'. On track of 270° this will take you
3° 50 past the Greenwich meridian, or W000:50. Answer C. *
26. From EUROPE ISLAND (S22:20 E040:21) to CAPE TOWN (S33:58 E018:36), departure time
01:30Z 2nd January. ETA CAPE TOWN 17:30 SAST 2nd January. The total distance is 4850 statute miles.
The average groundspeed is:
a. 301 kts
b. 346 kph
c. 346 kts.
27. From CLAN WILLIAM NDB CW to KIMBERLEY VOR KMV, distance 364 nm. At 116 nm
from CW the airplane is 11 nm right of planned track. To fly direct to KMV from this position,
heading must be changed:
a. 6° left
b. 8° left
c. 12° left.
a. Distance is measured along a straight line because that is the shortest distance between
two points
b. The shortest earth distance between two points can be represented by a curved line
c. Parallels are concave to the equator.
29. The great circle distance between position A (N68:00 E118:32) and position B
(N68:40 W061:28) is:
a. 2840 nm
b. 2640 nm
c. 2440 nm
30. An airplane, groundspeed 472 kts, is approaching checkpoint CHARLIE, ETA 2117. ATC
request the airplane to cross CHARLIE at 2120. To accomplish this, the airplane will reduce its
goundspeed to 415 kts at:
a. 20:52Z
b. 20:55Z
c. 20:58Z
31. Sector
Track Distance TAS Drift Time
A to
B 209°T
107 nm 230 kts 7° left 29 min
B to C 267°T 96
nm 230 kts
a. 190 kts
b. 202 kts
c. 214 kts.
* c * m * b * 2 * Groundspeed calculation * Find the GS for A to B, 107 nm/29 min = 221,4 kts. The
True heading A to B is 209° T Hdg + 7° left drift = 216°T. Enter the information on the Unknown Wind
page. W/V = 285,2/28,9. On Hdg/GS enter to figures for B to C. GS = 202,4 kts. Answer B. *
32. An aircraft passes overhead NDB A at 10:00Z, TAS 180 kts, heading 157°M. NDB A
indicates a relative bearing of 186° when aircraft passes over NDB B, 49 nm from A at
10:20Z. Variation through out is 8° West. The wind direction and speed is:
a. 229/16
b. 110/24
c. 125/37
33. A LAMBERT’S chart has the parallel of origin at S27:00. The difference between earth
convergence and chart convergence at S34:00 is:
a. 0,56 degrees
b. 0,45 degrees
c. 0,11 degrees
34. An airplane is maintaining a track of 127°(T), heading 151°(M), Var 16° W. The heading
to fly the reciprocal track is:
a. 315°M
b. 323°M
c. 331°M
* c * l * a * 1 * Reciprocal heading to steer * Convert heading 151°M to true, 151 - 16° W Var =
135°T. this gives a drift of 8° Left. On the return the drift will be 8° right, and the required track the
reciprocal of 127, namely 307°T. add Var 16 W and Mag Track is 323°M. Apply 8° right drift and
required heading is 315°M. Answer C. *
a. 1800 ft/min
b. 1900 ft/min
c. 2000 ft/min
* c * l * c * 1 * Rate of Descent required * 60 nm covered at a GS of 277 kts will take 13 min. during
that time 26000 ft must be lost, so 26000/13 = 2000 ft/min. Answer C. *
36. The length of the parallel of latitude on a chart between (N49:14 E175:53) and B (N49:14
W168:42) is 24,87 cm. The scale of the chart expressed as a representative fraction is:
a. 1 : 4 500 000
b. 1 : 6 900 000
c. 1 : 5 700 000
* c * m * a * 2 * Scale calculation * The Change Longitude between the two places is 15°25'. But this
is at N49:14, so you need the departure formula to calculate the earth distance. (15°25' x 60) x Cos
49:14 = 604 nm. Chart length is 24,87 cm. Convert ED to cm and divide by 24,87. Answer A is closest.
Answer A. *
37. The standard time of sunrise at OSLO, NORWAY (N59:45 E010:37) on 22nd February is:
a. 06:37
b. 07:20
c. 07:37
38. 11:47Z Overhead COOKHOUSE. (S32:46 E025:45), TAS 220 kts, Hdg 005° (T).
12:10Z Observed drift 14° right.
12:21Z Crossing BURGERSD()RP VOR BDV (S30:59 E026:17) radial 125.
Mean W/V is:
a. 305/55
b. 315/65
c. 295/55
39. 09:20Z Overhead SISHEN (S27:42 E023:00) set heading 094°M, FL 110,
OAT 0°C, RAS 108 kts.
10:37Z Overhead WELKOM (S28:00 E026:42).
10:43Z Using W/V 330/55 heading for KROONSTAD (S27:40 E027:I6) is:
a. 353°M
b. 011°M
c. 011°T
a. 0842Z
b. 0849Z
c. 0855Z
41. 1510Z Overhead EAST LONDON ELV (S33:02 E027:53), heading 010°T, TAS 180 kts.
,
155 5Z Alter heading onto 045°T, TAS 200 kts.
1634Z Overhead PIETERMARITZBURG NDB PM (S29:40 E030:24).
The mean W/V that has affected the airplane since 1510Z is:
a. 257/35
b. 282/29
c. 328/21
42. 0630Z Overhead HARTEBEESPOORTDAM HBV (S25:42 E027:53), TAS 150 kts, W/V
240/35. On a direct track to BULAWAYO VBU (S20:05) E028:42). The ETA at the HARARE FIR
boundary (S21:38 E028:29) is:
a. 0757
b. 0751
c. 0745
43. 0945Z Overhead NIEUWOUDTVILLE (S31:21 E019:03), FL270, TAS 340 kts, on a direct
track to GHANZI (S21:41 E021:39).
1018Z UPINGTON NDB UP (S28:23 E021:16) QDM is 124
1032Z UPINGTON VOR UPV radial 358
The ETA GHANZI is:
a. 1122Z
b. 1128Z
c. 1134Z
44. 0900Z Overhead CAPE TOWN (S33:58 E018:35) on a direct track to WINDHOEK WH
(S22:29 E017:27), heading 349°T, TAS 460 kts, GS 420 kts.
0933Z ALEXANDER BAY ABV (S28:34 E016:31) DME range 116 nm.
0950Z ALEXANDER BAY ABV DME range 116 nm.
Heading to steer at 0950Z for WINDHOEK is:
a. 330°T
b. 335°T
c. 341°T
45. 1500 Overhead SUTHERLAND VOR SLV (S32:23 E020:40), TAS 270 kts.
1600 Overhead ULCO VOR UCV (S28:23 E024:20).
At 1600 airplane returns to SUTHERLAND. ETA SLV is:
a. 1700
b. 1710
c. 1719
46. 1000 Overhead BEIRA (S19:46 E034:55) on a flight to HARARE (S15:55 E031:05).
a. 9° right
b. 13° right
c. 22° right
47. The great circle distance from A (N78:13 E156:27) to B (N69:27 W023:33) is:
a. 1827 nm
b. 1940 nm
c. 2175 nm
48. X to Y distance 107 nm, FL120, OAT +5°C, headwind 15 kts. The required RAS to fly from
X to Y in 37 minutes is:
a. 129 kts
b. 140 kts
c. 154 kts
* c * l * c * 1 * Required RAS * 107 nm in 37 minutes = 173,5 kts GS. With a HWC of 15 kts this
would require a TAS of 188,5 kts. Use the Req CAS page, and you get an answer of 153,6 kys. Answer
C. *
49. Standard time of sunset at LISBON, PORTUGAL (N38:45 W009:07) on 10 March is:
a. 1738
b. 1838
c. 1938
50. An airplane maintaining a track of 141°M at a groundspeed of 180 kts obtains the
following bearings from UPINGTON VOR UPV (S28:24 E021:16).
0917Z UPINGTON VOR radial 277
0934Z UPINGTON VOR radial 266
0949Z UPINGTON VOR radial 185
a. S29:29 E021:33
b. S28:55 E020:24
c. S29:48 E021:40
a. 0842Z
b. 0849Z
c. 0855Z
52. An airplane at FL330, groundspeed 480 kts is 376 nm from it's destination at 1735Z.
Mean rate of descent is 2000 feet/min, mean descent groundspeed 285 kts. The latest time to
commence the descend to arrive overhead the destination at 6000 feet is:
a. 1814Z
b. 1822Z
c. 1827Z
* c * m * a * 2 * Latest time to descend * The height to be lost in the descent is 33000 - 6000 =
27000. At 2000 fpm this will require 13,5 minutes. At a GS of 285 kts this will cover a distance of 64,1
nm. The remaining cruise distance is 376 - 64,1 = 311,9 nm. At a GS of 480 kts this will require 39
minutes. 17:35 + 00:39 = 1814Z. Answer A. *
53. Aircraft flies the direct track from VICTORIA WEST VWV (S31:24 E023:08) to PORT
ELIZABETH PEV (S33:58 E025:36), track 163°M, heading 170°M. When abeam the COOKHOUSE NDB
CH (S32:44 E025:45) the ADF will indicate:
a. 263 relative
b. 270 relative
c. 277 relative
54. 0630 Overhead BULAWAYO VBL (S20:05 E028:42), TAS 150 kts, W/V 240/35, on a
direct track-to HARTEBEESPOORTDAM HBV (S25:42 E027:53) the ETA at FAJS FIR boundary (S27:38
E028:29) is:
a. 0701
b. 0707
c. 0713
55. 0645 Overhead GHANZI GZ (S21:41 E021:39) FL280, TAS 340 kts, on a direct track to
NIEUWOUDTVILLE NVV (S31:21 E019:03).
a. 0836Z
b. 0843Z
c. 0850Z
56. 1037Z Overhead DURBAN VOR DNV (S29:56 E031:00) on a direct flight to
PHALABORWA (S23:56 E031:07).
1049Z MAPUTO VOR VMA (S25:52 E032:34) radial 281, DME 65 nm.
a. 5° left
b. 11° left
c. 17° left
57. 0932 Overhead SUTHERLAND VOR SLV (S32:23 E020:40) heading 059°T, TAS 2'60 kts.
1000 Overhead VICTORIA WEST VOR VWV (S31:24 E023:08), The mean W/V is:
a. 278/50
b. 206/55
c. 305/45
58. 0730Z Overhead GROOTFONTEIN NDB GF (S19:36 E018:06), TAS 210 kts, heading
158°T.
0845Z Overhead GHANZI NDB GZ (S21:41 021:40). The mean W/V since 0730Z is:
a. 173/34
b. 215/42
c. 247/42
59. 1927 Overhead DIAZ POINT (S26:40 E014:37) heading 037°T, TAS 252 kts, W/V
195/60.
a. 286°M
b. 293°M
c. 300°M
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