MRJT Additional Procedures — Page 132, Lesson 127

I want to walk you through a critical topic from the MRJT Additional Procedures section: Computer Flight Plans – Checking Accuracy. This is about how we, as professional pilots, verify the computer-generated flight plans that are handed to us before every flight. Let me start with the most important principle: never assume that computer plans are correct invariably. Errors can and do occur, particularly if the wrong information has been loaded into the computer. So our first job is to check the information to see if it is sensible. Experienced pilots who fly a series of routes regularly soon become familiar with route patterns, their seasonal fuels, times, and distances. That familiarity lets them quickly spot a "duff" computer plan — a plan that is obviously wrong. Here is the checklist of items you must verify: - It is up to date and using the latest forecasts — the plan must reflect the most current weather data available. - The fuel amounts and flight times make sense for the time of year — seasonal variations in winds and temperatures affect fuel burn and time; a plan that looks fine in summer might be wrong in winter. - The track directions and distances are sensible — the route should follow a logical path; check that the distances match what you expect for the sector. - The wind velocities and average wind component tally with the meteorological forecast — the wind component used in the plan should match the forecast winds you have been given. - The alternates chosen are acceptable — the alternate airports selected must be suitable for the aircraft and the weather conditions. - The method of cruise control is appropriate — the plan should use the correct cruise technique for the flight, such as long-range cruise or maximum range cruise. Now, what if the route is a new one, or one rarely flown? In that case, you cannot rely on your familiarity. So you must refer to the aircraft’s Simplified Fuel Planning Data to verify the computerized plan, or use agreed "Rules of Thumb" based upon average fuel flows and cruise TAS (true airspeed) and ground speeds. Let me define those terms clearly. Simplified Fuel Planning Data is a reference document for the aircraft that gives you standard fuel burn and time values for various conditions — it is your backup to check the computer's numbers. Rules of Thumb are quick, approximate calculations that experienced crews use, based on average fuel flows and typical cruise true airspeeds and ground speeds, to see if a plan looks reasonable at a glance. So the key takeaway here is: we never blindly trust the computer. We cross-check every element — fuel, time, track, wind, alternates, and cruise method — using our experience, the latest forecasts, and the aircraft's published data when needed. This is a fundamental part of our professional discipline. Now, the excerpt ends here and the next page begins a new chapter on Topographical Charts. Let me introduce that topic. We are moving into Chapter 9: Topographical Chart. This chapter covers how we read and use aeronautical charts for navigation. The contents include the World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84) — that is the standard coordinate system used in aviation — then Track (Course) – Measurement of Direction and Distance, Aeronautical Information, Topographical Information, Miscellaneous items, Establishment of Minimum Flight Altitudes, The Minimum Grid Area Altitudes (Grid MORA), Choosing Cruising Levels, Altimeter Errors and Corrections, and then several exercises including a Flight Log exercise and a VFR Exercise. This is the start of a fresh topic, so we will begin with the fundamentals of how we use topographical charts for flight planning and navigation.