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A Review of Navigation Involving General Aviation Pilots Flying under Visual Flight Rules

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2018

Elena Psyllou*
Affiliation:
(Centre for Transport Studies, Imperial College London)
Arnab Majumdar
Affiliation:
(Centre for Transport Studies, Imperial College London)
Washington Ochieng
Affiliation:
(Centre for Transport Studies, Imperial College London)

Abstract

General Aviation (GA) pilots need, more than ever, to be constantly aware of their aircraft's position especially when they navigate in areas surrounded by controlled airspace. With pilots being taught to navigate using visual landmarks and radio, the increasing use of space-based navigation aids might degrade the pilot's performance. Given limited literature resources on navigation by GA pilots, the following three navigation methods are outlined: visual, radio-based and space-based navigation. 27 GA pilots were interviewed in three European nations to determine the navigation methods currently used and their impact on the pilots’ performance. The selection of the participants based on aircraft type (fixed-wing, ultralight and glider), in three European nations highlights profound differences in navigation between the three most popular aircraft designs. Furthermore, space-based navigation aids, in particular portable computers, have changed both planning and navigation implying that changes in the training of pilots are urgently needed to enhance the pilot's performance, and subsequently, to promote aviation safety.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 2018 

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