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Louis Dalessandro
Technology Education Dept. State University of New York at Oswego
Overview of Air Navigation
• • • • • History Old methods/instruments High tech. methods Today’s common methods Usage and application
The History
• Charles Lindbergh
– Was the first person to fly solo over unmarked terrain – The only instrument used was a compass – Show that instruments could be relied on
Old Methods/Instruments
• Most instrument used, was the magnetic compass • Pilotage was use, while staying close to home • Gyroscope, first used in sea going vessels
– Aircraft used the gyroscope in the polar caps
Today’s High Tech. Methods and Instruments
• • • • • GPS ( global positioning system ) Radar navigation Internal guidance LORAN ( long range navigation ) Free flight
Global Positioning System
• Four satellites are used
Radar Navigation
• Signal bounces off the plane, then to the station
Internal Guidance
• Internal navigational instruments
Guidance
Long Range Navigation
• Low radio waves crossed from two different stations, to follow an aircraft
– mainly used over oceans
Station 1
Station 2
Free Flight
• Highway in the sky
Today’s Common Methods
• Pilotage • Dead reckoning • Radio navigation
Pilotage
• The use of specific landmarks
– Preplan course with identifiable landmarks – Pilot would find each landmarks throw the flight
• Good only in day and in nice weather • Bad for long distances
Dead Reckoning
• Plotted points on the map
– mathematical equation, find distance, and the time it takes to get to a point
• If the time and distance is off from per-calculated distance and time, then aircraft is off course
Radio Navigation
• Very high frequency omnidirectional radio
– VOR, civilian
• Uses station location to plot a course
– needle points in the direction of the station, to and from a given point
• DME- distance measuring equipment
– commercial and military
Usage and Application
• • • • Military Civil Commercial Look into the future
Military
• Most high tech navigational instruments, developed by and for the military • All military aircraft has inertial guidance • Nuclear subs use GPS and inertial guidance when under the polar icecaps
Civil
• Civilian pilots use a commination of all the navigational methods • Most small aircraft is not equipped with high tech equipment
Commercial
• Aircraft uses a combination of DME, GPS, LORAN, and radar navigation • All commercial aircraft is controlled by a tower
Look into the future
• Free flight, a highway in the ski • Self-controlled and self-navigated aircraft • Aircraft will be controlled by satellite
Overview of Air Navigation
• • • • • History Old methods/instruments High tech. methods Today’s common methods Usage and application
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