Law, Military Science and Security Safety in Society

Navigate An Aircraft In Visual Meteorological Conditions Training

SAQA US 120146 | NQF 5 | Credits 6 | Duration 3 Days
From $967 per delegate

Description

This course equips pilots with the knowledge and skills to navigate an aircraft safely and efficiently under Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC). It covers flight planning, map reading, terrain interpretation, and adherence to airspace regulations, ensuring competent visual navigation in South African airspace.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply visual navigation techniques to plan and execute a cross-country flight under VMC.
  • Analyze weather conditions and terrain features to make informed navigational decisions.
  • Evaluate aircraft position using visual references and dead reckoning.
  • Demonstrate adherence to airspace regulations and communication procedures during visual navigation.
  • Implement emergency procedures related to loss of visual references or navigational errors.
  • Design a flight log and navigation plan for a VMC route, including fuel calculations and alternate airports.

Target Audience

This course is designed for student pilots, private pilots, and commercial pilots who need to master visual navigation techniques for safe flight operations in VMC.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment. However, a valid student pilot license or equivalent is recommended.

Course Outline

Day 1: Principles of Visual Navigation and Flight Planning

Objectives:
• Explain the basic principles of visual meteorological conditions (VMC) and their impact on navigation.
• Identify key features of aeronautical charts and their symbols for visual navigation.
• Demonstrate the ability to plan a VFR cross-country flight, including route selection and fuel requirements.
• Apply knowledge of airspace classifications and restrictions relevant to VFR flight in South Africa.

Topics:
• Overview of VMC and VFR flight rules
• Introduction to aeronautical charts (VNC, WAC) and chart symbols
• Airspace classifications and VFR requirements
• Flight planning procedures: route selection, waypoints, and fuel calculations
• Use of navigation logs and flight planning forms
• Basic dead reckoning and pilotage techniques
• Weather briefing and interpretation for VFR flights

Day 2: Navigation Techniques and In-Flight Procedures

Objectives:
• Apply pilotage and dead reckoning techniques during simulated flight scenarios.
• Use visual references and ground features to maintain situational awareness.
• Interpret and respond to radio navigation aids (NDB, VOR) for position fixing.
• Demonstrate correct procedures for entering and leaving controlled airspace under VFR.

Topics:
• Advanced pilotage: using landmarks, roads, and rivers for navigation
• Dead reckoning: correcting for wind drift and calculating groundspeed
• Use of radio navigation aids: NDB bearings, VOR radials
• Position fixing techniques: cross bearings and running fixes
• Lost procedures and diversion planning
• Communication requirements for VFR flights
• In-flight re-planning and weather avoidance

Day 3: Advanced Navigation, Emergency Procedures, and Practical Integration

Objectives:
• Integrate all navigation techniques to execute a complete VFR cross-country flight plan.
• Identify and respond to emergency situations related to navigation (e.g., lost, low fuel, weather deterioration).
• Evaluate personal and aircraft limitations in VMC navigation.
• Demonstrate proficiency in using GPS as a supplementary navigation tool while maintaining visual reference.

Topics:
• Integrated navigation exercise: planning and simulated execution of a cross-country flight
• Emergency procedures: lost procedures, forced landing site selection, and communication
• Navigation in challenging conditions: low visibility, mountainous terrain, coastal areas
• Use of GPS and moving map displays in VFR navigation
• Human factors in navigation: decision-making, fatigue, and situational awareness
• Post-flight debrief and navigation log analysis
• Assessment of navigation skills and corrective actions

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Wed 09 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $967 Register
Wed 30 Sep 2026 Fri 02 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $967 Register
Tue 20 Oct 2026 Thu 22 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $967 Register
Mon 07 Dec 2026 Wed 09 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $967 Register
Wed 13 Jan 2027 Fri 15 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $967 Register
Tue 16 Feb 2027 Thu 18 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $967 Register
Mon 01 Mar 2027 Wed 03 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $967 Register
Wed 10 Mar 2027 Fri 12 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $967 Register
Tue 16 Mar 2027 Thu 18 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $967 Register
Mon 07 Jun 2027 Wed 09 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $967 Register
Wed 30 Jun 2027 Fri 02 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $967 Register
Tue 20 Jul 2027 Thu 22 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $967 Register
Mon 06 Sep 2027 Wed 08 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $967 Register
Wed 29 Sep 2027 Fri 01 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $967 Register
Tue 19 Oct 2027 Thu 21 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $967 Register
Mon 06 Dec 2027 Wed 08 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $967 Register
Wed 29 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $967 Register
Tue 18 Jan 2028 Thu 20 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $967 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 492 sessions across 26 venues
Start End Venue Season Price Action
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Wed 12 Aug 2026 Abu Dhabi, UAE Winter 2026 $4,552 Register
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Wed 12 Aug 2026 Cape Town, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,392 Register
Tue 11 Aug 2026 Thu 13 Aug 2026 Durban, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,230 Register
Tue 11 Aug 2026 Thu 13 Aug 2026 Dubai, UAE Winter 2026 $4,552 Register
Wed 12 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Pretoria, South Africa Winter 2026 $1,447 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Tue 15 Sep 2026 Thu 17 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,258 Register
Mon 05 Oct 2026 Wed 07 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,258 Register
Wed 28 Oct 2026 Fri 30 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,258 Register
Tue 15 Dec 2026 Thu 17 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,258 Register
Mon 18 Jan 2027 Wed 20 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,258 Register
Wed 24 Feb 2027 Fri 26 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,258 Register
Tue 09 Mar 2027 Thu 11 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,258 Register
Mon 15 Mar 2027 Wed 17 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,258 Register
Wed 24 Mar 2027 Fri 26 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,258 Register
Tue 15 Jun 2027 Thu 17 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,258 Register
Mon 05 Jul 2027 Wed 07 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,258 Register
Wed 28 Jul 2027 Fri 30 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,258 Register
Tue 14 Sep 2027 Thu 16 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,258 Register
Mon 04 Oct 2027 Wed 06 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,258 Register
Wed 27 Oct 2027 Fri 29 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,258 Register
Tue 14 Dec 2027 Thu 16 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,258 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Wed 05 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,258 Register
Wed 26 Jan 2028 Fri 28 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,258 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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