Volume 2
View others in this series.

Volume 2 of the Aviation Theory Centre manuals for the Private and Commercial Pilot, addresses the topics of meteorology and navigation.  They are grouped into one volume as they are mutually dependant.

The manual is easy to follow and logically assembled.  It is ideal for both the instructor offering tuition and for the student studying alone.

With cross-county flying comes the very significant responsibility of decision-making - both in the flight planning stage and in flight.  Up until now, our flights have been local and closely supervised.  If the weather turned, then there was always a short time to home and to safety.  There were probably alternative landing areas close by.  Fuel was never a problem.

Now we will venture into the great unknown.  We can fly to new destinations with different conditions.  We can fly the aircraft to the limits of its range and endurance, its maximum weight and crosswind limits.  We may encounter sloping runways, mechanical turbulence, failing light and marginal weather.  We need to apply for the first time, the theories of stability, control and performance that we previously only read about.

This volume provides the theoretical basis for understanding and interpreting the weather, and for calculating the aircraft's position and track, time and fuel to chosen destination.  It also explains how to use and interpret the radio navigation aids.

Together with Volume 3, this manual provides the basis for assembling and organising the information available to the pilot, for considering the forecast weather conditions, for selecting a route and cruising level, and for thoroughly planning and conducting the flight - with escape routes.  Only armed with this knowledge can we decide on the safest course.