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NVFR Navigation Exercise 1

Route

Redcliffe – Kilcoy NDB – Kingaroy – Maleny VOR – Redcliffe
Full stop landings are planned for at underlined locations

Now that you’ve proven yourself in the circuit at night, it’s time to see what Night VFR navigation is all about.

The route for your first night nav-ex is quite straight forward, but don’t underestimate the new challenges that arise from your inability to reference the ground like you do in the daylight.

As with all navigation exercises, proper planning prevents poor performance, so ensure you’ve checked off the to-do list below before your briefing and flight.

Booking Requirements

This sequence will require the following bookings:

  • 2 hour briefing slot
  • 5pm to 9pm slot with Instructor (arrive at 3pm for planning)
  • 5pm to 9pm slot with aircraft

Instructor requirement: Grade 3 or higher

Your briefing should be conducted at least a few days before the flight component to allow yourself time to practice the techniques learned.

Resources

Useful Links & Files


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Night VFR Nav-Ex 1 Sample Brief

Download 13.44 MB

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Article: What killed JFK Junior?

Download 339.35 KB

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NVFR Aerodrome Departure (incl Radio Calls)

Download 446.95 KB

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NVFR Aerodrome Arrival

Download 288.14 KB

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NVFR Aerodrome Arrival (revised LSALT)

Download 287.72 KB

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Climb Gradient Considerations

Download 257.20 KB

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Descent Gradient Considerations

Download 212.54 KB

CASA Night VFR Checklist

Preparation

On the day of your nav-ex, you should plan to conduct your pre-flight preparations during the daytime. Arrive at the AeroClub around 3pm to complete your flight plan, fuel up and pre-flight your aircraft. The aim is to be taxiing for departure just as End of Daylight (EoD) occurs.

Prior to the night of your nav-ex you should:

  • Practice lowest safe altitude calculations. Pick any two points on your WAC and work out the LSALT between the two using the 10nm NVFR method.
  • Practice working out beginning and end of daylight using the BoD and EoD Charts in the CASA Visual Flight Rules Guide (VFRG)
  • Revise:
    – interior aircraft lighting requirements
    – external aircraft lighting requirements
    – aircraft instrumentation requirements
    – aerodrome lighting requirements
    – night VFR aerodrome dimensions
    – alternate requirements for Night VFR operations
  • Read / revise the following chapters:
  • The GPS For Australian Pilots – Revise as required
  • Night Flight Manual – Revise Chapters: Route Considerations, Practical Flying, Emergency Procedures

textbook_gps_aus_pilots textbook_night_flying

Your bible of NVFR preparation:

The link below is an extract from the CASA Visual Flight Guide. You should print and laminate a copy if you don’t already have one:

CASA Night VFR Checklist

Instructor’s Tips

  • Dead reckoning becomes ever more important during night operations, as lack of ground features will make navigation more challenging
  • Don’t forget to ‘Tune Identify and Test’ your Navaids prior to use
  • Have a light dinner in the late afternoon before departure so you don’t fade during the nav-ex