Flight planning and navigation preparation
This domain tests whether you can prepare a New Zealand VFR navigation flight that is legal, within aircraft limits and fuel-safe. Questions target chart and AIP selection, route and airspace planning, weather and NOTAM briefing, fuel and weight-and-balance, alternates and flight notification.
Core preparation sequence
- Use current AIP New Zealand, the VNC at 1:500,000 and supplementary charts. Mark controlled airspace (CTR/CTA), ATZ, MBZ, restricted and danger areas, transit lanes and any local procedures. Check NZ CAA Part 91 VFR minima and any airspace-specific requirements.
- Brief METAR/TAF, GAF, SIGMET and winds aloft; identify an alternate when weather could prevent landing.
- Check NOTAMs and temporary restrictions. Complete weight and balance and performance for take-off, climb, cruise and landing.
- Build a nav log with legs, TAS, wind, heading, GS, time, fuel, ETA and visual checkpoints. File flight notification or SAR details as required.
Fuel and W&B discipline
Show taxi, trip, reserve, alternate and contingency fuel separately, and use usable fuel. Apply the reserve that applies to the operation; the example below uses a briefed 45-minute reserve. Check take-off and landing CG, not just mass.
Worked example
A 150 NM leg at GS 112 kt burns 30 L/h. Taxi 5 L; fixed reserve 45 min = 22.5 L; alternate 15 min = 7.5 L. Trip fuel = 150/112 × 30 = 40.2 L. Required = 40.2 + 5 + 22.5 + 7.5 = 75.2 L. With 90 L usable, surplus above requirement is 14.8 L. If the surplus is negative, shorten, refuel or replan.
Traps that cost marks
Mixing true and magnetic directions, using IAS as TAS, forgetting climb fuel, ignoring controlled airspace or an expired NOTAM, and treating forecast wind as magnetic. Also check that the alternate is actually usable under the forecast weather.