Navigation Technology
Warm-Up Questions
CPS Questions 1-2
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Lesson Overview
The uses of the plotter
 The uses of the dead reckoning computer
 How and when to use radio aids to navigation
 Current developments in navigation
technology
 How the Air Force uses GPS and inertial
navigation in air operations
 The purpose of computer flight-planning tools

Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Quick Write
Can you think of any ways that GPS jammers
could be useful?
(Note to teacher: Use “Pick a Student” button in CPS)
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
© Guy Shapira/ShutterStock, Inc.
The Uses of the Plotter
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Plotter—Combination protractor and ruler that helps
determine true course and measure distance
Protractor part—Includes an outer half circle and an
inner half circle to indicate degrees for direction
Ruler—Aids in determining distance
Nautical and statute mile marks—used for airspeedto-distance calculations
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Reproduced from US Department of
Transportation/Federal Aviation
Administration
Uses of the Dead Reckoning
Computer
Also known as a flight computer
 Used to solve equations:
calculations of time, distance,
speed, fuel consumption, and
wind drift
 Two sides: slide rule side, and
wind side
 Slide rule side—pilots can figure
out a trip’s time, distance,
speed, and fuel use, among
other information

Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Courtesy of Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc.
Uses of the Dead Reckoning
Computer, cont.
From wind correction angle—
pilot can figure out the true
heading, direction in which
the aircraft’s nose should
point to reach the destination
 Pilot can also reverse the
process to find the wind
velocity and direction
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Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Courtesy of Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc.
Activity 1: Contrasting Plotters
and Dead Reckoning Computers
Use the Venn Diagram to identify the
similarities and differences between
plotters and dead reckoning computers as
navigation tools
 List their differences on each side of the
diagram
 List the similar uses and features where the
two circles overlap
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Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Learning Check Questions
CPS Questions 3-4
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
How and When to Use Radio
Aids to Navigation
Radio aids help pilots navigate with precision to
almost any point desired
 Used when the weather isn’t clear, when altitudes
are too great to follow landmarks on the ground,
and to maintain safe distances between aircraft
 Operating a radio aid requires: Installing a radio
receiver in the aircraft, referring to air navigation
charts, the ground stations themselves, and a flight
deck with all of its flight instruments
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Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Types of Radio Aids
VOR receiver finds the radial
transmitting from a VOR
station located on the ground
 VOR receiver measures the
radial in degrees clockwise
from magnetic north
 Tells the pilot the aircraft’s
direction in degrees from a
chosen station
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Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Reproduced from US Department of
Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration
How VOR Works
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VOR sends the pilot azimuth data—a
measurement of distance in degrees
VOR ground stations broadcast at
VHF in straight, unobstructed lines
Pilot tunes the VOR receiver to the
selected VOR station’s frequency
To/from indicator tells the pilot if
the selected course will take the
aircraft toward or away from the
selected station
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Reproduced from US Department of
Transportation/Federal Aviation Administration
More on VORs
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Some VORs include distance-measuring
equipment—an electronic navigation system that
determines the number of nautical miles between
an aircraft and a ground station or waypoint
Together they are known as VOR/DME
Military installs it along with a piece
of equipment called tactical air
navigation, or TACAN; provides
distance and direction
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Courtesy of USAF/TSgt Eric Petosky
Automatic Direction Finder
Determines the bearing from the
aircraft to a selected ground station
 Non-directional radio beacon (NDB)
station transmits radio energy in all
directions
 Pilot uses an ADF to “home in” on a
station
 AM signals can curve with the
Earth; they aren’t restricted to
straight lines
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Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Reproduced from US Department of
Transportation/Federal Aviation
Administration
Instrument Landing System
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ILS provides an approach path to a specific runway
Provides three types of information: guidance,
range, and visual
Guidance comes from two transmitters on the
ground: the localizer and glide slope indicator
Range comes from marker beacons
Visual aids come from all
kinds of lights
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Reproduced from US Department of
Transportation/Federal Aviation
Administration
Global Positioning System
Satellite-based radio navigation system
 Uses data from at least four satellites to
pinpoint an aircraft’s position
 Receiver measures distance from a
satellite by counting the length of time it
takes a radio signal to travel from the
satellite to the GPS set
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Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Activity 2: Radio Aids
to Navigation
 Review
the textbook information on how
and when to use radio aids to navigation
 Read the information from NASA Virtual
Skies on radio navigation aids
 Complete the chart and describe how the
aids work and when they are used in
navigation
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Learning Check Questions
CPS Questions 5-6
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Current Developments in
Navigation Technology
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NextGen will move air traffic from a radar-based
system to a satellite-based technology
Turning to satellite transmissions, pilots and air traffic
controllers can receive information in real time
Timely data means improved safety
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Courtesy of NASA
Automatic Dependent
Surveillance-Broadcast
Device that repeatedly broadcasts a
message that includes the aircraft’s
position and velocity
 ADS-B system broadcasts all of the data it
has collected to nearby aircraft as well as to
ADS-B ground stations on a regular basis
 All aircraft will need to be able to
communicate with the ADS-B system by
2020
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Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Learning Check Questions
CPS Questions 7-8
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Activity 3: Current Developments
in Navigation Technology
 Create
a presentation on one of the
current developments in navigation
technology
 Conduct
and investigate research using
the sources identified
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
AF Uses of GPS and Inertial
Navigation in Air Operations
AF is the Defense Department branch that
operates the country’s GPS satellites
 Military version of GPS relies on two radio signals
rather than one and is also encrypted
 Military’s guided bomb units use GPS/INS guidance
systems—a precision weapon guided by GPS, INS,
and/or laser technology to its target
 Aircraft and UASs also rely on these navigation
systems to get them where they need to go
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Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Activity 4: Features and Benefits
of GPS and INS Guidance Systems
 Fill
in the chart using information from
the textbook
 Answer
the analysis questions
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Purpose of Computer
Flight-Planning Tools
Pilots use software that lets aircrews
electronically draw up and file flight plans
 These preprogrammed flight plans can take
weather reports into account; they may be
linked to ADS-B
 As a flight progresses the computer can also
alter the heading for any changes in wind
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Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Learning Check Questions
CPS Questions 9-10
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Activity 5 Flight Simulator:
Using VOR Stations to Navigate
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Experience how to navigate an aircraft using
VOR stations in Microsoft Flight Simulator
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Summary
The uses of the plotter
 The uses of the dead reckoning computer
 How and when to use radio aids to navigation
 Current developments in navigation
technology
 How the Air Force uses GPS and inertial
navigation in air operations
 The purpose of computer flight-planning tools

Chapter 4, Lesson 5
Review Questions
CPS Questions 11-12
Chapter 4, Lesson 5
The Science of Flight:
A Gateway to New Horizons
This course has introduced you to many
aspects of the science of flight and how
airplanes fly. There are many great
opportunities for you on the horizon.
As you continue your journey, use this
course as a foundation to pursue those
avenues and as a gateway to new adventures.
Chapter 4, Lesson 5