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Rules of Thumb
Article Information
Contents
1 Definition
2 1 in 60 Rule
3 Speed/Distance/Time
4 Conversions
5 Crosswind Component
6 Slant Range
7 Horizon Range
8 Descent Range
9 Final Approach
10 Rate of Descent on Final Approach
11 Payload and Fuel
12 ILS
13 TCAS response
14 Weather Radar
15 Related Articles
Definition
Used correctly, rules of thumb (sometimes know as “heuristics") can
assist significantly in pilot decision making and understanding. A rule of
thumb is a principle with broad application that is not intended to be
strictly accurate or reliable for every situation. It is an easily learned and
easily applied procedure for approximately calculating some value. It is
particularly useful as a means of cross-checking or confirming the validity
of information being displayed by aircraft navigation systems and flight
management systems (/index.php/FMS).
1 in 60 Rule
A 1 degree offset angle at 60 nm equates to 1 nm of displacement.
(/index.php/File:1in60.jpg)
Distance off track = (number of degrees off course x distance to
station)/60
Speed/Distance/Time
Flying speeds that simplify mental arithmetic can help you in many ways,
such as keeping retaining situational awareness during radar vectoring.
120Kts = 2nms/min
180Kts = 3nms/min
240Kts = 4nms/min
300Kts = 5nms/min
Conversions
1 m/s = 2 its = 4 km/hr approx
Crosswind Component
Useful for evaluating runway crosswind from reported wind, the crosswind
is a function of the SINE of the angle between the runway and the wind
direction. Therefore, crosswind can be estimated as follows:
0 0 0
15 25 0.26
30 50 0.5
(/index.php/File:Slantrange2.jpg)
Horizon Range
The horizon (in nautical miles) will be approximately the square root of
the height in feet:
Descent Range
Different types will have different performance so pilots must establish
and check any ‘rule’ for their own aircraft.
Modern, more efficient aircraft, will need greater distances but similar
rules of thumb can often be defined from a review of performance figures
and line experience. You may find that (e.g.) “40 per 10 plus 15” works
better for your type. The important point here is that well practiced rules
of thumb may need to be revised dramatically when changing from one
type to another.
Final Approach
3 degree glideslope = 300’/nm to touchdown
This is not exact – and approach plates will show precise figures for any
approach - but it provides a simple way to spot any gross errors.
From the above, at 120 knots GS, the rate of descent to maintain a 3
degree glideslope is approximately 600 fpm
Payload and Fuel
It is always useful to check mentally that loading figures make sense.
While it may not be true for every situation (so pilots must review the
circumstance of their own operation before using this), many pilots find
the following rule of thumb effective:
For a very rough estimate: Trip fuel = flight time x cruise fuel flow
ILS
At the threshold, 1/2 LOC dot = 1/2 runway width
On a very foggy take-off if you think you are lined up on the C/`L lights
and you see half a dot deviation on the ILS, you must be looking at the
edge lights!
TCAS response
Attitude change to achieve +/- 1500 ft/min from current flight path =
TAS/1000
Weather Radar
You can use the 1 in 60 rule to determine height of weather returns.
However, remember the beam width is typically +/- 2 deg.
You can measure beam width in flight by looking for the range of the
(first) ground return from altitude for a given search angle, e.g.: At
30,000ft, tilt -1 deg, if first ground return is 100 miles, beam width is +/-2
deg (lower edge of the beam is tilted -3 degrees).
If you have any other rules of thumb that you find useful then please send
the information to the Editor (mailto:editor@skybrary.aero)
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