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Quiz: 6 Questions To See How Much You Know About IFR Navaids

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Boldmethod

You use them every time you fly IFR. But how much do you really know about them?


  1. 1) You're flying an ILS approach. As you cross the threshold of the runway, how wide is the localizer course? (full scale left to full scale right)

    The localizer signal is adjusted for a course width of of 700 feet at the runway threshold. This is important to know, because based on the width of your runway, if you are even 1/2 scale deflection at the threshold, your plane many be completely left or right of the runway.

    The localizer signal is adjusted for a course width of of 700 feet at the runway threshold. This is important to know, because based on the width of your runway, if you are even 1/2 scale deflection at the threshold, your plane many be completely left or right of the runway.

  2. 2) You should always intercept an ILS glide slope from the:

    If you intercept the glide slope from above, you may intercept a false glide slope, due to the analog signal and your receiving equipment. The false glide slope can have a much steeper descent angle - one that you may not be able to maintain.

    If you intercept the glide slope from above, you may intercept a false glide slope, due to the analog signal and your receiving equipment. The false glide slope can have a much steeper descent angle - one that you may not be able to maintain.

  3. 3) You're navigating with a VOR and you're 90 NM from the station. How wide is 1 radial (1 degree) at your current location?

    For every 60 NM from the station, 1 degree is 1 NM wide. So 90 NM from the station means 1 degree is 1.5 NM wide.

    For every 60 NM from the station, 1 degree is 1 NM wide. So 90 NM from the station means 1 degree is 1.5 NM wide.

  4. 4) An ILS glide path is normally 3 degrees above the horizon. Approximately how many feet above the runway elevation, on average, will you be when you cross the middle marker on glide path?

    In most cases, the glide path will place you approximately 200 feet above the runway elevation at the middle marker. On most approaches, the DA (decision altitude) is also 200 feet above the runway elevation. If you can't see the approach lights or runway environment at that point, you need to go missed (assuming CAT 1 mins)

    In most cases, the glide path will place you approximately 200 feet above the runway elevation at the middle marker. On most approaches, the DA (decision altitude) is also 200 feet above the runway elevation. If you can't see the approach lights or runway environment at that point, you need to go missed (assuming CAT 1 mins)

  5. 5) You're navigating using a standard low altitude VOR. If you're flying at 6,000 feet AGL, what is the maximum service volume of the VOR?

    Standard low altitude VOR service volumes are 40 NM from 1000 feet to 18,000 feet.

    Standard low altitude VOR service volumes are 40 NM from 1000 feet to 18,000 feet.

  6. 6) DME slant-range error is negligible if your aircraft is at least 1 mile or more from the ground facility for every _________ feet of altitude above the facility.

    If you are at least 1 mile from the station for every 1000 feet of elevation, slant-range error is negligible.

    If you are at least 1 mile from the station for every 1000 feet of elevation, slant-range error is negligible.

Not bad, just keep studying your navaids...

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You've got these navaids down...for the most part.

Nice - you scored % Not bad.

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You nailed it. Nice work.

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Colin Cutler

Colin Cutler

Colin is a Boldmethod co-founder and lifelong pilot. He's been a flight instructor at the University of North Dakota, an airline pilot on the CRJ-200, and has directed the development of numerous commercial and military training systems. You can reach him at colin@boldmethod.com.

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