Navigation and Flight Planning for Agricultural Missions
Mission Planning
Agricultural flight planning differs from cross-country navigation: the objective is precise, repeatable swath alignment over a field. Candidates must understand swath width, overlap, heading and track, and the use of GPS guidance and flaggers. Planning includes identifying obstacles, sensitive areas, buffer zones, and emergency landing options along each pass. Wind direction determines the ideal application heading and swath sequence.
Navigation Traps
A common trap is confusing track with heading: in crosswind, the aircraft must crab to maintain the desired ground track, and the swath alignment must account for drift. Another trap involves assuming GPS guidance eliminates the need for visual reference and obstacle awareness; the pilot remains responsible for separation.
Worked Example
Rule of thumb: plan passes perpendicular to the wind when possible so drift stays within the field, and use a consistent overlap (often around 30 percent) to avoid skips. If a question describes a crosswind field, the correct answer usually involves adjusting the swath offset upwind to compensate for drift.
Records and Coordination
Know the importance of application records, field maps, and coordination with ground crews. Flight planning must include fuel or chemical load calculations and turnaround planning to avoid running out of either over the field.