Standard Rate Turns

Standard Rate Turn = IAS/10+7

(If IAS is 100 kts, then the correct bank angle would be 17°)

Rate of Descent

Rate of descent (fpm) for 3° glideslope = 5 x groundspeed (knots)

5 x 90 kts = 450 fpm rate of descent

Distance to Runway

Distance to runway = Height (in AGL)/300.

(If you are 465 ft AGL, then you are 465/300 or 1.5 NM from threshold)

Approximate Altitude Along Glide Slope

Multiply the distance from touchdown in miles x 300 (At 2 NM from touchdown the airplane should be about 600 feet above the touchdown zone elevation)

Climb Gradient

To determine the climb gradient required to clear an obstacle, divide the obstacle height by the NM distance to the obstacle.

Example:

Obstacle height = 4800 ft.

Distance to the Obstacle = 8 NM

4800 / 8 = 600 ft. per NM

Required Rate of Climb

To find the rate of climb required, multiply the groundspeed in NM per minute by the climb gradient.

Example:

Climb Gradient = 600 ft. per NM

GS = 120 knots

120 / 60 = 2 NM per minute

2 x 600 = 1200 feet per minute

Required Rate of Descent

To determine the rate of descent required, divide the change in altitude by the time required to reach the fix (such as an airport).

Example:

Starting Altitude:  10,000 ft.

Ending Altitude:  2000 ft.

Distance to fix: 50 NM

Groundspeed: 2 NM per minute

50 NM / 2 NM per minute = 25 minutes

8000 ft. / 25 min. = 320 feet per minute

Using a VOR to determine the distance between present position and the next fix

At 60 DME from a VOR, the distance between each radial is one NM. At 30 DME the distance between each radial is 1/2 NM. Distance to be flown can be calculated by counting the number of radials that will be crossed and multiplying this number by the appropriate mileage between each radial.

Example:

The aircraft has just crossed the 115° radial of a VOR at 30 NM DME and the next fix will be at the 91° radial

Total number of radials crossed = 115 - 91 = 24.

24 x 0.5 NM = 12 NM distance to next fix.

If the aircraft crossed the 115° radial at 15 DME the distance would be 6 NM to the next fix (24 radials x 0.25 NM between each radial).

If the aircraft crossed the 115° radial at 45 DME the distance would be 18 NM (24 radials x 0.75 NM between each radial).