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FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S MANUAL 161

Practically every flight of an airplane involves the use of some form of pilotage. However, it is generally combined with other forms of navigation. A "finished pilot" rarely has to resort to plain pilotage. 

Ordinary cross country flying may be accomplished over land areas in clear weather by very simple methods. The pilot with a thorough knowledge of chart reading will require little equipment other than reliable charts of the route to be flown.

When flying by pilotage between points on the same aeronautical chart, the following steps are necessary:
1. Draw a straight line on the chart between the points in question.
2. Make a careful study of the intervening country in order to decide whether to fly the direct route, or whether some detour may be desirable to avoid flying over large bodies of water, mountains, other hazardous terrain or over restricted areas as set forth by law.
3.Note ant characteristic landmarks along the route (such as prominent hills, or the pattern of a stream, railroads, and highway crossings).
4.) Shape the course in the air with reference to the landmarks noted. 

Obviously, there are other factors to be taken into consideration, such as: Cruising radius, time, remaining hours of daylight, winds, weather, etc. 

When the route lies between cities on different charts it is only necessary to join carefully the edges of adjacent charts involved, and proceed as before.

It will be of considerable assistance in a flight if before taking off the straight line of the chart is decided into 10- or 20-mile intervals. The cross marks for 50- or 100-mile intervals should be made heavier or emphasized by noting opposite them the total mileage from the starting point. This scale of miles furnishes an excellent check on the ground speed being made goof along the route.

It is good practice whenever possible to select to landmarks ahead, which are known to be on the course, and steer the plane so as to keep the two objects in line. Before the first of the two landmarks is reached another more distant object in line with them should be selected and a second course steered. Sometimes the selection of a course is very easy, as when a road of a railroad parallels the route; at other times, the selection of a continuous series of a courses may prove difficult, and for this reason it is desirable to refer to the magnetic compass as well. For this purpose it is not necessary to concern one's self with magnetic variation, compass deviations, or wind drift. It is only necessary, while steering a course that is definitely known to lie along the route, to note the compass heading. This heading is the correct course to steer, and it should be maintained until another course is available. Then if the compass heading is compared again, any change in the magnetic variation or wind conditions will be taken care of in the new compass heading noted.

Dead reckoning, as applied in flying, is the navigations of aircraft solely by means of calculations based on air speed, compass course, wind direction and velocity and elapsed time. No landmarks are