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160      U.S. CIVIL AERONAUTICS AUTHORITY

Just prior to take-off the following should be done:
1. Make a regular preflight inspection of the airplane.
2. Ascertain that the airplane has been fueled to the capacity required and that you are familiar with the type and grade of fuel and oil which is stipulated for the type of engine installed.
3. See that equipment and baggage is stowed correctly so that the movable weight is properly distributed in relation to the center of gravity and that it is free of the controls or any moving part.
4. Obtain the most recent and reliable weather information and study the weather map and forecast.
Throughout the flight, all Civil Aeronautics Authority airways rules and airport regulations and there is a definite and good reason for each one. In addition the following procedures and precautions should be followed:
1. A constant check and recheck of the fuel consumption against the distance to the destination and with reference to the distance to the nearest available airport must be made. 
2. All instruments should be continually watched for variations from normal readings. 
3. Wind direction and available landing areas must be constantly noted. 
4. A record of courses, times, and positions should be kept. Directing a plane from one place to another solely by reference to visible landmarks is known in this country as piloting or pilotage. Piloting or pilotage is the most elementary form of aerial navigation and must be combined with any other form that may be used. Its advantages are:
1. It is comparatively easy to perform.
2. You actually see what you are doing.
3. It does not require as much accuracy or equipment as other forms. 
The disadvantages of pilotage are: 
1. It generally causes the plane to fly a longer distance than necessary to reach the destination.
2. It lengthens the time of the flight and increases the number of fuelings on the trip.  
3. It requires that the plane be flown close enough to the ground to see landmarks, which with modern airplane engines sometimes does not allow advantage to be taken of the best engine operating altitude.
4. It can only be used over areas containing landmarks that can be referred to.
5. The visibility must be high enough to permit keeping the ground in sight. Consequently, other methods of navigation are necessary during bad weather.
Many pilots have crashed in bad weather due to lack of familiarity with other methods of navigation.
However, in spite of many objections to using this form of navigation, conditions sometimes arise wherein no other form is possible. Every pilot should keep his knowledge of elementary pilotage as his "ace in the hole" for use when necessary.