DGCA CPL – AIR NAVIGATION SYLLABUS (Aeroplane)

1. AIR NAVIGATION

a) Basics of Navigation

1. The Solar System

• Seasonal movements of the sun
• Apparent movements of the sun

2. The Earth

• Great circle
• Small circle
• Rhumb line
• Convergency
• Conversion angle
• Latitude
• Difference of latitude
• Longitude
• Difference of longitude
• Use of latitude and longitude coordinates to locate specific position

3. Time and Time Conversions

• Apparent time
• UTC
• LMT
• Standard time
• International Date Line

4. Directions

• Terrestrial magnetism
• Declination
• Deviation
• Compass variation
• Magnetic poles
• Isogonals
• Relationship between True and Magnetic

5. Distance

• Units used in navigation:
  • Nautical miles
  • Statute miles
  • Kilometres
  • Metres
  • Yards
  • Feet
• Conversion between units
• Relationship between nautical miles and minutes of latitude

b) Magnetism and Compasses

1. General Principles

• Terrestrial magnetism
• Earth’s total magnetic force
• Resolution into vertical and horizontal components
• Effect of latitude change on components
• Directive force
• Magnetic dip
• Variation

2. Aircraft Magnetism

• Hard iron
• Vertical soft iron
• Resulting magnetic fields
• Variation in directive force

3. Deviation

• Change of deviation with change of latitude
• Change of deviation with change in aircraft heading

4. Compass Errors

• Turning errors
• Acceleration errors

5. Installation & Protection

• Keeping magnetic materials clear of compass

6. Compass Types and Use

• Standby compass
• Landing/main compass
• Remote reading compass

Detailed knowledge required:

• Principles of operation
• Use of compasses
• Serviceability tests
• Advantages & disadvantages of remote indicating compasses
• Adjustment and compensation of direct reading magnetic compass

c) Charts

1. Projections – General Properties

• Mercator
• Lambert Conformal Conic
• Polar Stereographic
• Transverse Mercator
• Oblique Mercator

2. Representation on Charts

• Meridians
• Parallels
• Great circles
• Rhumb lines
  On:
• Direct Mercator
• Lambert Conformal Conic
• Polar Stereographic

3. Use of Current Aeronautical Charts

• Plotting positions
• Indicating scale and relief
• Conventional signs
• Measuring tracks and distances
• Plotting bearings

d) Dead Reckoning (DR) Navigation

1. Basic Concepts

• Track
• Heading (Compass, Magnetic, True, Grid)
• Wind velocity
• Airspeed (IAS, CAS, TAS, Mach number)
• Ground speed
• ETA
• Drift
• Wind correction angle
• DR position
• Fix

2. Navigational Computer Use

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

3. Triangle of Velocities

Determination of:

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

4. Determination of DR Position

• Need for DR
• Mental DR
• Lost procedures
• Heading & TAS vector since last confirmed position
• Wind velocity vector application
• Last known track & ground speed vector
• Assessment of DR accuracy

5. Measurement of DR Elements

• Altitude calculations
• Adjustments
• Corrections
• Errors
• Temperature determination
• Appropriate speed determination
• Mach number determination

6. Resolution of DR Problems Using:

• Mercator charts
• Lambert charts
• Polar stereographic projections

7. Range Calculations

• Maximum range
• Radius of action
• Point of Safe Return (PSR)
• Point of Equal Time (PET)

8. Miscellaneous DR Uncertainties

• Practical means of correction

e) In-Flight Navigation

1. Visual Navigation

• Use of visual observations
• Application in-flight

2. Navigation During Climb/Descent

• Average airspeed
• Average wind velocity
• Ground speed/distance covered

3. Cruise Navigation

• Use of fixes
• Ground speed revision
• Off-track corrections
• Wind speed/direction calculation
• ETA revisions

4. Flight Log

• Navigation records

2. MASS AND BALANCE – AEROPLANES

a) Introduction

Centre of Gravity (CG)

• Definition
• Importance for aircraft stability
• CG limits (take-off, landing, cruise)
• Maximum floor load
• Maximum ramp and taxi mass

Factors Determining Maximum Permissible Mass

• Structural limitations
• Performance limitations:
  • Runway length
  • Weather (temperature, pressure, wind, precipitation)
  • Climb/obstacle clearance
  • Engine-out performance

Factors Determining CG Limits

• Stability
• Control authority
• CG movement in flight
• Fuel transfer
• Undercarriage movement
• Passenger/cargo relocation
• Centre of lift movement

b) Loading

Terminology

• Empty mass
• Dry operating mass
• Zero fuel mass
• Standard mass (crew, passengers, baggage)
• Fuel
• Oil
• Water (volume/mass conversion)
• Carry-on luggage
• Useful load

Effects of Overloading

• Higher take-off speeds
• Longer T/O & landing distance
• Reduced rate of climb
• Reduced range/endurance
• Reduced engine-out performance
• Structural damage risk

c) Centre of Gravity Calculations

• Load & balance documentation
• Datum
• Moment arm
• Algebraic signs
• Moment = Mass × Arm
• % MAC expression
• Effect of load shift
• Movement of CG
• Inertia effects
• Acceleration effects

3. PERFORMANCE

a) Single-Engine Aeroplanes

• Definitions of terms and speeds
• Take-off & landing performance
  • Effect of mass
  • Wind
  • Density altitude
  • Runway slope
  • Runway condition
  • Use of AFM
• Climb & cruise performance
  • AFM data use
  • Density altitude effects
  • Endurance
  • Power settings
  • Still-air range

b) Multi-Engine Aeroplanes

• Definitions & new terms
• Importance of performance calculations
• Pressure altitude & temperature effects
• Runway condition & slope
• Obstacle clearance
• Rate of climb/descent
• Cruise altitude & ceiling
• Payload/range trade-off
• Speed/economy trade-off
• Use of performance graphs & AFM tables

4. FLIGHT PLANNING & MONITORING – AEROPLANES

a) Cross-Country Flight Plans

Navigation Plan

• Route selection
• Speeds
• Altitudes
• Alternate selection
• Terrain/obstacle clearance
• Cruising levels
• Checkpoints
• Track measurement
• Wind forecast use
• Heading/GS/time computation
• Navigation flight log completion

Fuel Plan

• Fuel computation per leg
• Climb/cruise/descent fuel
• Holding fuel
• Alternate fuel
• Reserve fuel
• Fuel log completion

Monitoring & Re-Planning

• In-flight fuel monitoring
• Actual vs planned comparison
• Reserve revision
• Diversion planning
• Cruise altitude/power reselection

Radio Planning

• Frequencies
• Call signs
• Navigation aids (type, frequency, identification)

b) ICAO ATC Flight Plan

• Types
• ICAO format
• Completion procedure
• Filing procedures
• Processing authority
• Adherence

c) Practical Flight Planning

• Chart preparation
• Plotting tracks
• Navigation plan completion
• Fuel log preparation
• Radio planning practice

d) Practical Completion of Flight Plan

• Extraction of navigation data
• Meteorological data
• Performance data
• TOC calculations
• Cruise fuel/time
• Alternate fuel
• Missed approach fuel
• Reserve fuel
• ATC plan completion

5. RADIO NAVIGATION

a) Fundamentals of Radio Propagation

• Electromagnetic waves
• Wavelength
• Amplitude
• Phase
• Frequency
• Frequency bands
• Sideband
• Pulse characteristics
• Carrier
• Modulation/demodulation
• Types of modulation
• Oscillation circuit

Antennas

• Characteristics
• Polarization
• Types

Wave Propagation

• Ground wave
• Space wave
• MUF
• Fading
• Reflection
• Absorption
• Interference
• Static
• Terrain effects

b) Radio Aids

For each:

• Principles
• Presentation
• Interpretation
• Coverage
• Range
• Errors
• Accuracy
• Limiting factors

Includes:

• Ground D/F
• ADF
• VOR
• Doppler VOR
• DME
• ILS

c) Radar

• SSR
• Transponder
• Modes and codes (including Mode S)

d) Satellite Navigation

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

6. INSTRUMENTATION

6.1 Flight Instruments

Air Data Instruments

• Pitot-static system
• Altimeter
• Airspeed Indicator
• VSI/IVSI

Gyroscopic Instruments

• Gyro theory
• Vertical gyro
• Directional gyro
• Rate gyro
• Slaved gyro
• Ring laser gyro
• Drift
• Mounting
• Drive types

Magnetic Compass

• Construction
• Deviation
• Inclination errors

Radio Altimeter

• Components
• Frequency band
• Operation
• Errors

6.2 Power Plant & System Monitoring

• Pressure gauges
• Temperature gauges
• RPM indicators (piston & turbine)
• Fuel flowmeters
• Fuel quantity systems
• Torque meters
• Electronic displays:
  • EFIS
  • EICAS
  • ECAM
  • FMS