How does the Pilot in a plane calculate the timings of the place to be landed?

Question

I f suppose he knows the area geometrics i.e source as 18N 10E and Destination as 36N 70E. How does he calculate the time at the destination?

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

The EASY and 21st century answer is......Why with a computer and GPS of course.

If you're talking about an AIRLINER or highend private airplane you're talking about computers and GPS although the methods have changed over the years to get us to the high tech position we're in today.

If we're talking the lower end of aviation such as MOST pilots fly, then we can again use the computer and GPS because of the advent of inexpensive (anything involving aviation is RELATIVE as to cost) hand held and panel mount GPS navigational systems.

When we're training.....ALMOST ALL PILOTS.....are taught to use the map, waypoints, forcast winds, known performance of the aircraft, aircraft manufacturers charts on time/distance/fuel consumed to climb from and to an altitude, etc. All these items are calculated with a circular slide rule (or a battery powered calculator that is dedicated to aviation use) and then plotted on a paper map.
Once the flight begins, comparing planned times and distances to actual times and distances allows you to update your arrival time at destination.

With the handheld (or dash mount) GPS units the flight plan (from and to and the route between the two information) is programed into the unit prior to takeoff (or after takeoff if you want). The GPS unit then keeps constant track of where the aircraft has been, where it is, and time lapsed. It takes that information to perform multiple calculations in microseconds and display any number of data items in real time to the pilot. At any time in the flight, the pilot can simply call up the destination airport and see the time that he will arrive if he makes no changes in aircraft performance.

Does that answer your question?

Answer 2

He will probably scale desired Heading and distance off an aeronautical chart of the area, although this can be calculated from the data given. Airspeed is read direct from instruments. Hopefully he will have the most recent "winds aloft" data from his origin and destination. The vector sum of the wind and "airspeed" will yield true airspeed at the desired heading. Dividing distance by true speed and adding landing and taxi time, he can come up with an ETA

True heading = tan^-1(60/18) = 73°
distance = (60^2+18^2)^(1/2) = 62.64° =
(R+A)*62.64/360 = 0.174(3484+A/6000) nautical miles = 607nm (@30,000ft)
607/v = approx. flying time

Answer 3

All aircraft come with performance charts that will show the true airspeed for given weather conditions and altitude. The pilot will then use weather forecasts to determine wind direction and speed. His flight calculator (manual or electronic) will then tell him his speed and time to travel. Most newer aircraft are equipped with GPS. With GPS, you just enter the destination coordinates and it will continually update you with the ETA. It will also show the flightpath the plane should be on to reach the destination. If coupled with the autopilot, it will also fly the plane along the flightpath.

Answer 4

it's all scheduled. he knows before he takes off what time he's going to land if there is a delay in departing then he travels faster and vice versa if he departs early.