Basics of Navigation

I. The solar system

• Seasons
• Apparent movements of the sun

II. Earth

• Great circle
• Small circle
• Rhumb line
• Convergency
• Conversion angle
• Latitude
• Difference of latitude
• Longitude
• Difference of longitude

III. Time and time conversions

• Apparent time
• UTC
• LMT
• Standard times
• International date line
• Directions
• Terrestrial magnetism
• Declination
• Deviation
• Compass variations
• Magnetic poles
• Isogonals
• True and magnetic direction

IV.Distance

• Nautical miles
• Statute miles
• Kilometres
• Metres
• Yards
• Feet
• Unit conversion

Magnetism and Compasses

I. General principles

• Terrestrial magnetism
• Vertical component
• Horizontal component
• Directive force
• Magnetic dip
• Variation
• Aircraft magnetism
• Hard iron
• Soft iron
• Turning and acceleration errors
• Remote indicating compasses (RIC)

Charts

I. Type of projections & Properties

• Mercator
• Lambert conformal conic
• Polar stereographic
• Transverse Mercator
• Oblique Mercator
• Meridians
• Parallels
• Great circles
• Rhumb lines

Dead Reckoning Navigation (DR)

I. Basics of dead reckoning

• Track
• Heading (compass, magnetic, true, grid)
• Wind velocity
• Airspeed (IAS, CAS, TAS, Mach number)
• Ground speed
• ETA
• Drift
• Wind correction angle

II. Use of the navigational computer

• Speed, Time, Distance
• Fuel consumption
• Heading
• Airspeed
• Wind velocity

III. The triangle of velocities

• Heading
• Ground speed
• Wind velocity
• Track and Drift angle
• Track error
• Time and distance problems

IV. Measurement of DR elements

• Calculation of altitude
• Adjustments
• Corrections
• Errors
• Determination of temperature
• Determination of appropriate speed
• Determination of mach number
• Maximum range
• Radius of action
• Point of safe return
• Point of equal time

V. Navigation in climb descent

• Average airspeed
• Average wind velocity
• GS, Distance covered during climb & descent

VI. Navigation in cruising flight

• Ground speed revision
• Off-track corrections
• Calculation of wind speed and direction
• ETA revisions

Mass and Balance - Aeroplanes

I. Introduction to Mass and Balance 

• Mass and balance 
• Maximum floor load 
• Maximum ramp and taxi mass 
• Determining maximum permissible mass
  • Structural limitations
  • Performance limitations

II. Loading

• Terminology
  • Empty mass
  • Dry operating mass
  • Zero fuel mass
  • Standard mass 
  • Carry-on luggage
  • Useful load 
• Effects of overloading 

III. Centre of Gravity (CG)

• Centre of gravity (cg)
  • Definition
  • CG & Aircraft stability  
• Basic of cg calculations 
  • Datum
  • Use in cg calculation
  • Moment arm
  • Mean aerodynamic chord (MAC) 
• Calculation of cg 
  • Effect of load-shift
  • Movement of cg

Flight Planning and Monitoring

I. Fuel Plan 

• Computation of Fuel
  • During climb
  • Enroute
  • During descent 
  • Fuel for holding
  • Diversion
  • Reserves 
  • Total fuel for flight
  • Types of Flight Plan

II. ICAO ATC Flight Plan

• Format
• Completing the flight plan
• Filling the flight plan
• Procedures for filing
• Agency responsible
• Adherence to flight plan 

Radio Navigation

I. Radio Aids

• Ground D/F
  • Classification of bearings
  • Principles
  • Presentation and interpretation
  • Coverage
  • Range
  • Errors and accuracy
• ADF 
  • principles
  • Presentation and interpretation
  • Coverage
  • Range
  • Errors and accuracy
  • Factors affecting range and accuracy
• VOR and Doppler – VOR 
  • Principles
  • Presentation and interpretation
  • Coverage
  • Range
  • Errors and accuracy
  • Factors affecting range and accuracy 
• DME
  • Principles
  • Presentation and interpretation
  • Coverage
  • Range
  • Errors and accuracy
  • Factors affecting range and accuracy
• ILS
  • Principles
  • Presentation and interpretation
  • Coverage
  • Range
  • Errors and accuracy
  • Factors affecting range and accuracy

II.Basic Radar Principles

• Secondary surveillance radar
  • Transponder
  • Principles
  • Presentation and interpretation
  • Modes and codes, including mode S

III. Satellite assisted navigation

• GPS / GLONASS
  • Principle of operation
  • Advantages and disadvantages

 Instrumentation

I. Flight Instruments 

• Air data instruments
  • Pitot and static system
  • Pitot tube
  • Construction and principles of operation
  • Static source
  • Malfunction
  • Heating 
  • Alternate static source 
• Altimeter
  • Construction and principles of operation
  • Display and setting
  • Errors
  • Correction tables
  • Tolerances 
• Airspeed indicator
  • Construction and principles of operation
  • speed indications (IAS)
  • Meaning of coloured sectors
  • Maximum speed indicator
  • VMO, MMO pointer
  • Errors 
• Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI)
  • Aneroid and instantaneous VSI
  • IVSI- construction and principles of operation
  • Display 

II. Gyroscopic instruments

• Gyro fundamentals
  • Theory of gyroscopic forces
  • Types
  • Principles of operation
  • Vertical gyro
  • Directional gyro
  • Rate gyro
  • Rate integrating gyro
  • Single degree of freedom gyro
  • Ring laser gyro
  • Apparent drift
  • Random drift
  • Mountings
  • Drive types
  • Monitoring 

• Directional gyro
  • Construction and principles of operation
• Slaved gyro compass
  • Construction and principles of operation
  • Components
  • Mounting and modes of operation
  • Turn and acceleration errors
  • Application
  • Uses of output data 
• Attitude indicator (vertical gyro)
  • Construction and principles of operation
  • Display types
  • Turn and acceleration errors
  • Application
  • Uses of output data 
• Turn and bank indicator (rate gyro)
  • Construction and principles of operation
  • Display types
  • Application
  • Uses of output data
  • Turn coordinator 

III. Magnetic Compass

• Construction and principles of operation
• Errors (deviation, effect of inclination) 

IV. Radio Altimeter

• Components
• Frequency band
• Principle of operation
• Displays
• Errors 

V. Basics of Electronic Displays

• EFIS
• EICAS
• ECAM
• FMS 

Basic radio propagation

I. Theory

• Basic principles
• Electromagnetic waves
• Wave length
• Amplitude
• Phase angle
• Frequency
• Frequency bands
• Side band
• single side band
• Pulse characteristics
• Carrier
• Modulation
• Demodulation
• Kind of modulation
• Amplitude, Frequency, Pulse, Phase modulation
• Oscillation circuit 

II. Antennas

• Characteristics
• Polarization
•  Types of antennas 
  

III. Wave propagation

• Ground wave
• Space wave
• Propagation with the frequency bands
• Frequency prognosis (MUF)
• Fading
• Factors affecting propagation
• Reflection
• Absorption
• Interference