Private Pilot Syllabus Section 8

8A - Cross Country Aircraft Performance

Calculate Flight Time and Fuel Burn for Cross Country Flights

  • 4½
  • 4
  • 0

Reference

Assignments

Activities

Completion Standards

When complete, the pilot

  • is able to calculate pressure and density altitude and understands their role in determining aircraft performance.
  • is able to use and understand climb and cruise performance charts.
  • understands the function of VORs and their use in navigation.
  • is able to complete a navigation log and calculate compass heading, time en-route, and fuel burn for each leg of the flight.

8B - Dead Reckoning and VORs

Cross-Country Flight Using a Navigation Log and VOR Course Tracking

  • 0
  • 3½
  • 2

Activities

  • Revise navigation log based on current weather conditions
  • First time filing/opening/closing VFR flight plans
  • Dead reckoning outbound
  • VOR course tracking on return
  • VOR In-Flight Challenge

Reference

Completion Standards

When complete, the pilot

  • is able to use a calculated navigation log in flight.
  • can use time and fuel data in flight to evaluate flight performance and revise arrival time.
  • is able to correctly tune and identify a VOR station.
  • is able to identify a course toward a given VOR.
  • is able to determine the radial that the aircraft is located on.
  • selects appropriate headings that successfully track a VOR course.
  • is able to recognize VOR station passage.
  • is able to correctly identify headings to intercept any desired VOR course.

8C - Flight Automation & Diversion

Using Advanced Avionics for Cross-Country Flight and Diversion to an Alternate

  • 2
  • 2½
  • 1½

Assignments

Activities

  • GPS In-Flight Challenge
  • Use of autopilot for S&L, climbs, descents, and course tracking
  • Lost procedures
  • Diverting to an alternate airport

Completion Standards

When complete, the pilot

  • is able to use GPS to determine course to and distance from the nearest airport.
  • is able to enter a GPS flight plan with multiple waypoints.
  • understands course guidance information provided by the GPS.
  • is able to retrieve airport and other information from the GPS database.
  • is able to quickly engage the autopilot to maintain current heading and altitude.
  • is able to use the autopilot to track a course.
  • is able to demonstrate procedures to use in the event of becoming lost.
  • can safely divert to a new destination in flight and adjust flight planning appropriately.

8D - ATC Facility Visits (optional)

Get Context for the People on the Other Side of the Radio

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Activity

  • Schedule and visit SFO control tower, NorCal TRACON, or Oakland Center

Completion Standards

When complete, the pilot

  • has visited local ATC facilities and met air traffic controllers.

8E - Associated Ground Topics

Acquire the Knowledge Needed to Support the Flight Skills of This Section

  • 2½
  • 2
  • 0

Assignments

Completion Standards

When complete, the pilot

  • understands situations in which the altimeter reads incorrectly.
  • understands how pilot failure to set the altimeter correctly can result in altimeter indication errors.
  • understands the situations in which the magnetic compass reads incorrectly.
  • understands the content of the POH supplements and how to incorporate limitations, normal procedures, and system descriptions from supplements into the rest of the POH.