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162 U.S. CIVIL AERONAUTICS AUTHORITY 

taken into consideration. However, winds change in direction and velocity between different points and other variables operate to keep this means of navigation from being accurate in all cases. Therefore the most common form of navigation is a combination of dead reckoning and pilotage in which the course is calculated for true dead reckoning and constantly corrected for error and variables by checking landmarks.

It will be seen that a knowledge of the principles of dead reckoning is very important, not only in working our the course and time of the trip, but in assisting the pilot to locate himself in case he becomes lost.  By checking backward over the part of the trip completed, the pilot who is thoroughly familiar with these principles car figure his approximate position and determine his errors.  He can then localize his search for landmarks to verify his calculations and relocate himself.

Very few pilots who are not engaged in charter work or in scheduled air-line flying actually figure their courses on paper. However, all the basic principles are applied in a practical fashion in setting their course and estimating their position, and reasonably accurate navigation results. This would be impossible if their principles of dead reckoning were not thoroughly understood.

The only knowledge necessary is a thorough understanding of the solving of the wind triangles and of the principles of the magnetic compass and its operation, proficiency in chart reading, and good common sense.

The student should be required to work out his navigation problems on paper until he his thoroughly familiar with all the principles involved and can put them to practical use without actually figuring them. 

All air0-line pilots and many other continually use a navigational computer of some type of constantly check their course and position, etc. These are very valuable for accurate navigation and can be used rapidly and easily while flying, once they are understood. Cruising range, ground speed, corrected courses, and arrival times can be rapidly figured either before departure or at any time during the trip. Even though the student intends to use one of these, and there are several good types on the market, the preliminary basic knowledge of dead reckoning is important since it will give him a thorough understanding of how and why they work and how to use them to solve unusual problem that ma arise. 

It adverse weather conditions are encountered, the wise pilot will land at the first opportunity, It is better to turn back to the nearest field than to proceed to a field which has not been previously sighted. Do not fly over or into fog or unbroken clouds. 

A pilot should not let personal considerations outweight common sense when he makes a decision. An unaccountable number of fatalities have resulted from this one cause alone. It is much better to spend the night in that high-priced hotel or in that "dead" town, rather than to try to rush through in spite of bad weather or impending darkness. Don't be in a hurry!

There is no set rule for following landmarks. Each locality has its own peculiarities, consequently a particular landmark may be more distinctive in one section of the country than it is in another.