Charts, Publications and Flight Planning
Charts and scale
The Charts, Publications and Flight Planning domain tests whether you can extract information from a chart, apply its scale, use current publications and build a safe plan. A representative fraction such as 1:500,000 means one unit on the chart equals 500,000 of the same units on the ground. Read the chart edition and effective date, and check NOTAMs before flight. Know the symbols for controlled airspace, danger areas, obstacles, radio aids, aerodromes and magnetic variation. Publications include the AIP, NOTAM, AIC, TAF/METAR and flight-plan forms. A practical plan includes route, altitude, fuel, mass and balance, alternates and a navigation log.
Worked example
A chart has scale 1:500,000. A measured distance of 6 cm represents 6 × 500,000 cm = 3,000,000 cm = 30 km. Convert to nautical miles: 30 ÷ 1.852 = 16.2 nm. At a planned ground speed of 120 kt, time = 16.2 ÷ 120 hours = 0.135 h = 8.1 min, so plan about 8 min. Always measure along the planned track, not along a straight line that cuts airspace or terrain.
Traps
Do not confuse statute miles, nautical miles and kilometres. Check the scale bar rather than assuming a comfortable map distance. Use the current chart edition and valid NOTAM times; an expired TAF or NOTAM is not a plan. Include wind and temperature effects on ground speed and fuel. Confirm that the planned altitude clears obstacles and airspace, and that fuel includes taxi, climb, cruise, descent, alternate and reserve.