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2. IFR Use of GPS (b) Database Requirements. The onboard navigation data must be current and appropriate for the region of intended operation and should include the navigation aids, waypoints, and relevant coded terminal airspace procedures for the departure, arrival, and alternate airfields. (1) Further database guidance for terminal and en route requirements may be […]

The Global Positioning System is a space-based radio navigation system used to determine precise position anywhere in the world. The 24 satellite constellation is designed to ensure at least five satellites are always visible to a user worldwide. A minimum of four satellites is necessary for receivers to establish an accurate three−dimensional position. There are […]

I’ve known for years that at non-towered airports you make calls on the Unicom frequency and often there is someone at the airport who will give wind and quiet-flight advisories. I never gave much thought to how the frequencies were assigned or when a station was a Unicom station or Multicom station. However, a recent […]

The ILS system may be divided functionally into three parts:    (a) Guidance information: localizer, glide slope;    (b) Range information: marker beacon, DME; and    (c) Visual information: approach lights, touchdown and centerline lights, runway lights Guidance Information Localizer transmitter operates on one of 40 ILS channels within the frequency range of 108.10 to 111.95 MHz. Located […]

Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB) Except for Alaska, there are very few of these left and most pilots remove the Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) equipment from their airplanes when the install GPS equipment (Unless they like to listen to AM Radio when they fly.) The frequency band in the US is 190 to 535 kilohertz (kHz) […]

The Aeronautical Information Manual put out by the FAA has lots of interesting stuff, however, it’s not an especially engrossing read. And there is a lot of information that you already know, that doesn’t apply to general aviation pilots, or that is poorly written and needs further explanation. This post is the first of many […]