EASA ATPL062 radio-navigation foundations common mistakes
EASA ATPL062 radio-navigation foundations · Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
Equating a VOR radial with aircraft heading.
Position relative to a station is confused with nose direction.
What to do instead
Identify the declared reference, radial, selected course and actual heading separately.
Calling DME distance a pure ground distance.
The vertical component is ignored.
What to do instead
Use the supplied geometric separation and calculate slant range when required.
Treating a nonzero CDI deviation as a centered selected radial.
The display geometry is made inconsistent.
What to do instead
Retain the actual deviation and instrument convention rather than silently replacing it with zero.
Treating displayed coordinates as proof that integrity is available.
A position solution is confused with its required monitoring function.
What to do instead
Check the actual integrity indication and applicable capability rather than infer approval from a plausible position.
Using one minimum satellite count regardless of aiding.
An algorithm-specific condition is generalized to every installation.
What to do instead
Read the stated monitoring mode and whether approved external aiding is included.
Calling a 95 percent accuracy statement an absolute maximum deviation.
A statistical performance condition becomes a guarantee for every instant.
What to do instead
Preserve the stated percentage and distinguish accuracy from integrity and containment requirements.
Calling a dark area behind heavy weather a safe gap.
Missing return is confused with no hazard.
What to do instead
Consider attenuation and actual radar limitations; the classroom display alone cannot authorize a route.
Confusing pulse-pair spacing with the interval between interrogations.
Two different timing quantities are collapsed into one.
What to do instead
Identify the pair’s defined spacing separately from timing jitter used to associate an aircraft’s replies.