The differences between Navigation and Flight Performance
Years ago, Flight Performance and Planning was part of Navigation but many potential pilots
could not pass the exam in the time allocated because of the huge disparity in the complexity
of the questions, it was more 'exam technique' as opposed to 'knowledge'.
Sensibly, the two subjects have been split, however, many textbooks and schools get a bit
confused where the boundaries are since there are many overlaps.
This is not helped by the fact that EASA have tweaked the boundaries and have made an awful job
of the documentation making it confusing, ambiguous and way too vague in many aspects.
This page of the PPLmentor.com website documents these boundaries as I understand them based
on some clarifications I have made with EASA as at Dec 2019.
Navigation
Flight Planning
Seasons, Day & night, time, date line, sunrise, sunset. Charts, chart projections, great
circles, rhumb lines and scale. Latitude & Longitude, plotting positions on an aviation
chart.
Latitude & Longitude, plotting positions on an aviation chart
True north, Magnetic north, Variation & Deviation, dip.
True north, Variation.
Measuring distances, tracks and plotting bearings on an aviation chart. Units used in
aviation and all the CRP work associated with conversions of units. Understanding the symbols
used on aviation charts.
Measuring distances, tracks and plotting bearings on an aviation chart. Units used in
aviation and all the CRP work associated with conversions of units. Understanding the symbols
used on aviation charts, airspace classifications, heights, terrain and obstacle clearance.
How to VFR/DR navigate, calculation of speed. time, distance using the CRP. Compensating
for wind and the wind side of the CRP. IAS / CAS / TAS / GS.
Producing a flight log (PLOG), Way-points, fixes, visual clues.
How to VFR/DR navigate, calculation of speed. time, distance using the CRP. Compensating
for wind and the wind side of the CRP. IAS / CAS / TAS / GS.
Producing a flight log (PLOG), Way-points, fixes, visual clues.
En route navigation, Revising ETA and how to perform corrections.
En route navigation, Revising ETA and how to perform corrections. In flight re-planning.
Runway crosswinds and headwinds using CRP.
Runway terms, take-off and landing performance, effects of weight, wind, altitude,
slope and runway conditions. The flight manual and how to use cruise and performance data.
Use of the CRP for basic fuel calculations, consumption, fuel weight.
Producing a fuel plan as part of a PLOG, contingency, diversion and reserve. In flight
fuel management.
Basics of VHF communications, VOR, ADF, DME, SSR, GPS, how to operate the equipment and its shortcomings.
Producing a communication plan and incorporating VOR, ADF, DME etc within the PLOG.
Not covered
Weight and Balance, plotting and calculating, producing a load sheet.
Not covered
NOTAMs, ATIS, Met briefings, Airfield directories, diagrams and charts.
ATC flight plans, purpose, how to complete and submit.
From the above comparison, the chart-work, has many overlaps and some strange divisions, the philosophy
is that Navigation is the theory and Flight Performance and Planning is the theory put into use.
I would recommend studying all the chart-work aspects for both subjects at the same time (as part of
navigation) and shortly afterwards on the additional, unique bits of Flight Performance and planning
such as weight and balance.
