What's included
6 live meetings
5 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursHomework
Learners are advised to review previous lesson concepts for approximately 15 mins prior to the next class.Assessment
Students will be assessed informally throughout the lesson to ensure they are meeting learning goals.Class Experience
US Grade 7 - 10
In this hands-on course, we will explore the fundamental concepts of aerial navigation that all pilots learn during their initial training. Using the Federal Aviation Administration's Private Pilot Certificate general knowledge base, learners will become familiar with the tools pilot's use to plan a flight, the mathematical equations used to calculate flight time, distance, speed and fuel required, the geological concepts of true north, magnetic north, magnetic variation, latitude and longitude, and much more. The course is highly interactive and will progress in a building-block approach, applying concepts to realistic scenarios along the way. It will culminate in applying all course concepts to the planning of a cross-country flight, and we will use a free, browser-based (no download needed) flight simulator to fly the flight and see if our calculations get us to our destination! There are no prerequisites for this course. Week 1: Introduction, lattitude/longitude, the magnetic compass, determining a course Week 2: Magnetic north, magnetic variation, magnetic course, compass deviation Week 3: The effects of wind, basic calculations for navigation Week 4: Pilotage and dead reckoning Week 5: Plan a cross country flight Week 6: Fly the flight in a simulator!
Learning Goals
Become familiar with elements of a sectional chart
Apply latitude and longitude to find a location
Understand the basic functions of a magnetic compass
Determine true course, true heading, magnetic course, magnetic heading, and compass heading
Understand and apply corrections for the effects of wind
Calculate time en route, distance, speed, and fuel required
Become familiar with the basic techniques of pilotage (visual navigation)
Apply the above concepts to the process of dead reckoning by completing a pre-flight navigation planning worksheet
Other Details
Parental Guidance
For the last-day simulator exercise, we will be using the online, browser-based simulator at www.geo-fs.com. No download or account creation is necessary. Students will need a computer with a keyboard with arrow keys (a mouse or a joystick can be used in place of arrow keys). To use this flight simulator, you will need a WebGL compatible web browser. You can test this here... http://webglreport.com
If you want to play using a joystick, you will need a GamePad API compliant browser (test it here... https://gamepad-tester.com) (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, etc. Test... https://caniuse.com/gamepad).
Supply List
Must be able to print files provided before the applicable lesson Protractor 12 inch (or equivalent) ruler Pen or pencil (pencil recommended) Simple calculator
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Teacher expertise and credentials
New Jersey Teaching Certificate
2 Degrees
Master's Degree from University of West Florida
Bachelor's Degree in History from United States Air Force Academy
I served 20 years and an active duty Air Force pilot, flight instructor, and academic teacher. For the past nine years, I have taught a high school Aviation Science course. I remain an active pilot and aviation enthusiast!
Reviews
Live Group Class
$142
for 6 classes1x per week, 6 weeks
55 min
Completed by 59 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-16
3-10 learners per class