II—The Navigational Value of Pressure Pattern Techniques

Extract

The navigational problem. In order to find out how an aircraft is tracking with respect to the ground, we can either obtain information from data accurately placed with respect to the ground, or assess the horizontal movement of the air masses through which the aircraft is flying and combine this motion with that of the aircraft through the air. To determine the track we require accurate knowledge of the aircraft's heading and of the drift, which is the effect of the beam component of the wind. Along any given course line the navigator can make a series of drift observations, usually visual and therefore requiring downward visibility, and estimate the departure from the course line by averaging such observations to obtain the integrated effect of the drift. Since the sole purpose of drift observation is to estimate the departure of an aircraft from a given course line, a method of obtaining this total departure from a single observation or pair of observations, under any visibility conditions, is of considerable value. Again, if it is possible to estimate before flight the total integrated effect of drift for the whole flight, and our object is merely to fly to reach our destination, then the necessity of taking drifts during flight will be obviated.