Basic Aviation Cross Country Planning

NAME _____________________  (317 points possible)  earned ________  Page 1
Basic Aviation CrossCountry Planning Assignment 
Due date May 6, 2021
Objective:  Plan a cross-country flight in a Cessna 172 from Will Rogers Airport (OKC)
in Oklahoma City to Cox Airport at Paris, Texas (PRX) to Addison Airport (ADS) at
Dallas, Texas.  Use pre-flight planning resources available within to ensure that the flights
can be conducted safely and legally.  Departure date 4/7/21.
GIVEN:
 Use Dallas-Ft. Worth sectional chart
 OKC departure time — 1900Z
 True Airspeed (TAS) — 110 kts
 Distances — measure in nautical miles
 Fuel Consumption — 11.0 gallons per hour
 Pilot — (name – Ace) 190 lbs. Private pilot 17 years old
 Passenger — (name – Joker) 150 lbs. Student pilot 16 years old
 Luggage — 20 lbs.
 Aircraft empty weight — 1350 lbs. & Moment 51.5 
 Fuel Tanks Full – (48 gal)  (Min. octane – 100)  12/7/19 at 1830Z
 Cessna 172 — single-engine, 150 hp, fixed pitch prop, flaps, non-retracting gear
What is the youngest legal age Ace (as PIC) could be on this x-country? ___________
The minimum medical certificate required for Ace is a _____________ Class.
What telephone number will Ace use to call for a 
Flight Service Station briefing?  ___  _____  ______  _________
When Ace received an initial FSS briefing more than six hours prior to departure, he
requested an ________ briefing.  A complete briefing an hour before the proposed
departure is a _________briefing.  Another call to the FSS just minutes prior
to the flight for a specific segment is referred to as an ___________ briefing.
A Special VFR Clearance can be requested by Ace at night.  T  F
Ace’s proposed departure time from OKC is 1900Z, convert that to local time. _________ central standard time _______ 24-hour clock time
TFR stands for _____________  ____________  ___________
Can Ace knowingly violate a FAR during an emergency?  Yes  No
Find weather surface observations (METAR) to determine if the airports    Page 2
are currently reporting VFR conditions.
 What are the cloud base(AGL), visibility(SM ) and visibility restriction  at:
OKC  —  
PRX  —
ADS  —
METAR KOKC 301245Z  28009KT / 17SM / SKC / 27/11 / A2970
METAR KPRX  301245Z  21012KT / 3SM BR/ FEW 004  SCT120 / 27/11 / A2968
METAR KADS  301246Z  18011G25 / 5SM -RA / BKN11 / 28/24 / A2974
Based on these METARs, do VFR conditions exist?  Y  N  (circle one)
PILOT REPORTS (PIREP)
(UA)  OKC UA /OV OKC/ TM 1917/ FL 045/ TP C172/ TA 11/ WV 18037/ 
 TB Occasional moderate turbulence surface to 50.  Smooth above.
1.  What kind of turbulence might Ace
expect while departing OKC to PRX?  __________________
2.  Ace may have to slow the airplane to what V-speed? _______________
3.  Why? 
4.  If Ace encountered severe turbulence, which flight
condition should he attempt to maintain?  _______________________
 
5.  Determine the following from the PIREP above:
Altitude – _____________  Type of aircraft – _____________
Temperature – _________    Winds aloft – _____________  
 Location – ____________   Time – ___________
6.  When unforecasted adverse weather is experienced during flight, it is
 recommended to advise the FSS with a Pilot Report (PIREP).  T  F
7.  A PIREP can be transmitted to a FSS over a communication radio.  T  F
8.  A PIREP is a portion of a FSS preflight briefing.  T  F
If the rotating beacon is in operation at ADS (1) what colors will be observed …and 
(2) it indicates what during daylight hours?
Forecasted winds/temperature aloft  (FD)  Page 3
 (Do not interpolate  —  use nearest forecast altitude)
FT  3000  6000  9000  12000 
OKC 0608  2012+17  2337+02  3337-04
On the sectional map draw true course lines, determine distances, and find magnetic
variation.  Then decode forecasted winds aloft and use OKC (FD) for all leg segments.
First leg  >>  OKC to PRX  >>  altitude  —  13,500 ft.
Distance ________nm  True Course (TC)  ____________ degrees  
FD_________  degrees  ________  kts  Ground speed (GS) ________  kts
Wind correction angle (WCA) ______degrees  (L or R)  Time Enroute _______min.  
True heading (TH)____degrees  Magnetic Heading (MH) ______ degrees
Isogonic value (MV)______degrees (E or W)   Fuel consumed  ____gal
What is the Density Altitude at OKC?
(Refer to Figure 8,  A2-9 and OKC METAR)
Altimeter setting _______  Conversion factor _______  Airport elevation_______
Temperature _______  Pressure Altitude _______  Density altitude _______
Ace finds this data block on the sectional chart.  Indicate the meaning of each entry.  (9 points possible)
Will Rogers  (OKC)
CT – 119.35  C  ATIS 125.85
1295  L  98
***ATTENTION: Fill in the blanks from 1 to 17 for the OKC to PRX leg only,
(also, which FSS?)  …some creativity may be necessary!  [See appendix  A]
See PRX AFD [appendix B] for the following questions 
 
What frequency activates the VASI for runway 35 at PRX?  __________  This VASI
has a __________ degree glide angle and threshold crossing height of __________ feet.
PRX has an AWOS:    What is it? ________  What frequency?  _______
RUNWAYS    RUNWAYS  RUNWAYS  Page 4
1.  PRX has four runways/landing surfaces.  What are they?
____/____  ____/____  ____/____  ___________
2.  Based on the PRX METAR answer Ace’s landing consideration:
a. ….wind direction ________ b. wind velocity _________
c. …land on which specific runway _____
 1.  width?________  2.  length?_____  
3. landing distance available?  _____  4.  landing obstacles?  _____
 d. headwind component?  (use figure 36, page A2-29)  _____________
 e. Determine total ground roll based on sea level and 59 degrees F.
   (see note:  use figure 3, page A2-31)  ________________
f. (Refer to figure 36, page A2-29)  Determine the cross-wind component
 if Ace elects to land on runway 14.  __________
g. What does an “X” on the end of a runway indicate?  __________
According to the METAR at PRX
1.  There is a layer of scattered clouds.  Determine the cloud’s height:
a.  Above Sea Level ______   b.  Above Ground Level  _____
2.   Descending from 13,500 ft. into PRX, pictorially and quantitatively depict cloud clearances (1) above and (2) below 10,000 ft MSL.  
3.   
4.  Based on the temperature and dew point, at what altitude might Ace find cumulus
 clouds.  Demonstrate the formula.  (remember:  C to F conversion)
What ground based navigational facility near PRX will assist Ace in locating the airport?  
______________  …..on what frequency?  ______________
Locate a military training route (MTR) Ace will cross approximately 15 statute miles
Northwest of PRX…identify the types and identifiers.  ________  ___________
PRX airport lies on the PRX VOR-DME _________ degree radial.
What is the minimum radio equipment needed to land at PRX airport? _________
Pat Mayse Lake is located northwest of PRX:
a.  What is the lowest altitude Ace can fly over the lake?  ________ AGL
b.  What’s the effect on altitude if the lake was a national wildlife refuge? ______
c.  What radial range from PRX VOR does the lake lay?  _______ to _______
Approaching PRX Joker yells, “red over red”, what’s the system and what’s the concern?  __________________________
At PRX Ace performs a very hard landing and suspects the ELT was activated.  Page 5
How would he determine this?
Second Leg  >>  PRX to ADS  >>  altitude 2500 ft. (label values)
Distance _______  TC________  FD ____  ____  GS ______  WCA ____ L or R
TH _____  Time enroute______ Fuel  _____ MV ______  MH _______
On what ground based  Navigational Facility frequency near PRX would Ace communicate
with FSS?  _________  which FSS? ____________________
Seventeen miles southwest of PRX Ace observes another airplane at his 12 o’clock
position, opposite direction, and at the same altitude.  What should both pilots do?
Upon arriving at ADS, Ace notes that the control tower controller isn’t answering his
radio calls.  He continues toward the airport and observes a steady green light directed 
toward him from the control tower. (1)  What does it mean and (2) what will he do?
What radio frequencies will be used for the ADS arrival?  (See sectional)
 ATIS ______  Ground control _______ Tower ________  Approach _______
AIRSPACE    AIRSPACE  AIRSPACE
(1)  Draw the route of this entire x-country on the reverse side of this page and
(2)  encircle the segments where a transponder with Mode C is required.
Which airports (ADS, PRX, OKC) are physically within the following airspace classes? 
Class A ___  Class B ___  Class C ___  Class D ___  Class E ___  Class G ____
What symbols on the sectional chart did you use to determine the answers above?
Determine the following airspace altitude:  …..carefully…. Very carefully…  
base of Class E over PRX _______MSL  top of Class B over ADS ______MSL
base of Class B over ADS_______AGL  base of Class B at ADS  ______MSL
top of Class C at OKC  _______MSL  top of Class D over ADS ______MSL
base of a Victor Airway  _______AGL  base of Class C at OKC  ______AGL
top of Class A over PRX  _______MSL  top of Class G over PRX ______AGL
Can Ace legally use your Dallas – Ft. Worth aeronautical chart for his proposed flight?  
Y  N  Why? 
FAA Advisory Circulars containing subject matter specifically related to Airspace
are issued under which subject number?  ________
 Weight and Balance  Page 6  
Use the weight and balance graph (figure 34, page A2-27) to determine if Ace loaded the plane properly before he departs OKC.  Refer to all “Givens on 1st page”….empty weight, oil, etc.
Total Gross Weight _________ Moment _______  C.G.  ______ inches aft of datum line
….is within center of gravity envelope?  Y  N
Items  Weight  Moment
1
2
3
4
5
Ace banks onto final, experiences a load factor of “2”.  His seat supports _________lbs.
FUEL
Assuming full fuel, does Ace have enough fuel for this entire x-country flight?
(GIVEN:  2 gallons of fuel are used for ground operations at each airport).
 a. enough fuel?  Y  N  gal. consumed
 b.  How many pounds of fuel were consumed? _______  leg 1 – ______
 c.  What is VFR day fuel reserve?  _________  leg 2 – ______
 d.  Can auto gas be substituted?    Y  N    ground ops – ______
   Total gallons- ______
Based on Appendix B, Ace decides to refuel at PRX.  The airport operator is temporarily out of 
100 Low Lead avgas.   
(1)   Can he substitute another fuel?  Y  N    Explain:
(2)  If Ace needs fuel at night in PRX, he will call telephone # _________________
GENERAL PILOT CONSIDERATIONS/REQUIREMENTS
FAA Advisory Circulars containing subject matter specially
related to Airmen are issued under which subject number?  ______
To celebrate the upcoming flight, Ace has a beer party.  What do the FARs dictate?
If Ace’s Third Class medical certificate was issued on January 17, 2017,  
is it still current? Y  N  Explain…
Ace was invited to go scuba diving three hours prior to this 
flight…what is physiologically wrong with this scenario?
Smoking tobacco products while flying a Cessna 172 is not prohibited by FARs,  however it should be avoided by pilots and passengers.  List at least 7 reasons:  (1 point each)
A recreational pilot certificate is:  (circle all that apply)  Page 7
 a. used exclusively by astronauts in Iowa
 b. restrictive
 c. what a family of six needs
 d. covered in FAR Part 61
 e. guarantees employment at NASA
What term would Ace voice over the communications
radio to announce an emergency? __________________
Hyperventilation decreases carbon dioxide in the blood. T  F
A biennial flight review is valid for ____  ___________ months.
What percentage of time should Ace scan for other traffic? ______
Is Ace’s pilot logbook required to be in the plane during flight?  Y N
GENERAL AIRCRAFT CONSIDERATION/REQUIREMENTS
What documents are required to be:
 In the airplane?  On the pilot?
Are aircraft maintenance logbooks required to be in the plane during flight?  Y  N
What is the VFR transponder code? __________
What color is the instrument panel lighting?  _______
Aircraft position lights are required to be illuminated from _________ to ____________.
(Refer to figure 4, page A-2-5)  The Va speed is _______________.  
During an emergency, what…..Transponder code_______ Communications freq_______
What effect does applying carburetor heat have on 
(1)  engine performance and (2) mixture?
The airplane hasn’t flown for three weeks, nor were the fuel tanks filled after its
last flight.  During the preflight examination what must be done and why?
What special check should be made during a preflight examination after it has Page 8
been stored outside during the summer for an extended period of time?
What dangers exist while closely following a heavy 747 on the final approach?
Are magnetic compass acceleration/deceleration related errors a factor on the 
flight from PRX to ADS?  Y N  Why?
At what speed will this Cessna 172 stall? 
What V-speed would provide the greatest gain in altitude in the least amount of time?
and where is this information found?  ____________  __________
AIRCRAFT CURRENCY REQUIREMENTS
Determine if the aircraft is legal, logbook inspection on 12/7/2020 indicates the following:
 
 Transponder/static:  Last certification Dec 7, 2020  Y  N
 Annual inspection:  Completed April 2, 2020  Y  N
The aircraft annual inspection will expire at midnight….day____ month____ year_____
Can a 100 hour inspection be used in lieu of an annual inspection?  Y    N
GENERAL METEOROLGY CONSIDERATIONS
Explain why atmospheric pressures change globally.___________
What is an embedded thunderstorm? ______________________
List  characteristics of:  Unstable Air  Stable Air
Visibility
Precipitation
Clouds
Turbulence
Standard pressure at sea level _____ Standard temperature at sea level _____
One of the most easily recognized discontinuities with a frontal passage is a change in ______________and one weather phenomenon which will always occur when flying across a front is a change in the ______________.
Define the term dew point.
What phenomenon is always associated with a thunderstorm? ______________  Page 9
(Refer to figure 18, page A2-13)…Find the Kirksville Airport weather symbol on 
the weather depiction chart and determine the cloud coverage.  ____________
Which flight leg would Ace have the highest susceptibility to carbon monoxide poisoning?  _______ to _______  Why? __________________
What conditions are most favorable for carburetor icing?  __________  __________
Clouds, fog, or dew will always form when what occurs? ___________________ 
Federal Aviation Regulations
Is supplemental oxygen required on any part of this x-country?  Y  N
 …..explain.
What are the international languages?  Aviation _________ Other _______
When must an ELT battery be replaced? 1. __________ 2._________
Can objects be dropped from an airborne aircraft?   Y  N
When must seat belts be used by:  FLIGHT CREW ________________________________
PASSENGERS ___________________________________________  
Joker offered Ace a financial gratuity for the opportunity to accompany him.
Can Ace accept compensation and if so, how much and for what?
Except for certain provisions, Ace is required to wear a parachute if any intentional
maneuver exceeds _____° of bank or ______° nose-up or nose-down.
The maximum indicated airspeed for flight below 10,000 feet MSL, unless otherwise
authorized or requested by ATC, is_____ knots.  …..if ATC assigned Ace this airspeed, what would be his response?  (use figure 4, page A2-5)
(Ace logged three different flights on 10/17/19.) On this flight he elects to carry Joker as a passenger. Describe pilot currency requirements allowing this.  (***three segment answer)
Who is responsible for closing a VFR Flight Plan? _____________  
Ace moved from his permanent address in Kirksville to Buzz, Ohio on 1/21/21.
a. Who must Ace notify __________  b.  & within what time period? __________
Can a student pilot carry passengers without a CFI? Y  N  Page 10
Is a “type rating” required to fly a Cessna 172? Y  N
Is a “high performance” logbook endorsement
required to fly a Cessna 172?    Y  N
Can a student pilot enter Class B airspace?  Y  N
…explain
All turns in a non-tower airport traffic pattern are left unless otherwise indicated…
….describe the pattern procedure at ADS when Class D Airspace is in effect.
The legal aviation definition of nighttime is the time between dusk and dawn.  T  F
NTSB PART 830
Ace had an accident causing substantial damage to his plane.
What are the NTSB notification requirements?
May the aircraft wreckage be moved prior to the time NTSB takes custody?  
Y  N  Explain
General Operations  
What airport is found at the following coordinates?  N35-39.9  W095-57.0
VFR approaches to land at night should be
accomplished the same as during daytime.  T  F
The flag symbol at Tuttle, OK, located 12 nm southwest of OKC represents what? 
Frost on an aircraft decreases lift and increases drag.  T  F
The highest accumulation of structural icing during flight occurs in _______ ________ 
and develops ____________ type ice.
A transponder has _______ possible codes.
An ADF navigation radio receives  AM  FM  radio signals.  (circle one)
__________ controls airspeed and ___________controls altitude. (both begin with P)
How many satellites make up the Global Positioning System (GPS)?  ________
An inclinometer is found in which instrument________.  
An airplane’s master switch turns on/off the cockpit electrical system.  T  F
Ace turns off the engine with the:  Magneto switch  Master switch  Mixture control  (circle one)
Block 15 (refer to Appendix A) represents the number of ________aboard the aircraft.   Page 11
One of the main functions of flaps during an approach is to ________________________
without _________________________.
The angle of attack is the angle between the _______ ________ and the ______ ______.
Who is responsible for ensuring compliance with an aircraft Airworthiness Directive. _________
Acrobatic flights are prohibited over a congested area of a city, town, or settlement.  T  F
Who is directly responsible for the pre-launch briefing of the passengers for a flight? ________
Ace deviated from the FARs during an in-flight emergency: (check correct answer(s))
 ______  Can he be sent to prison.
 ______ He is required to submit a written report.
 ______  He lived but committed suicide.
A radar controller gives Ace the following radar vector, “fly heading 270 and maintain 2000 feet.”  This would cause him to fly directly through a cumulus cloud.  What should he do and say?
Ace knows a cute little nurse who gave him a container of oxygen from the hospital for this flight.  Can he legally use it?  Y  N  explain
The ___________ is responsible for determining if an aircraft is in condition for safe flight.