Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Pilots may become lost as a result of flying through weather conditions that restrict visual reference. One method of trying to navigate out of a bad situation (provided you have enough altitude and are not in mountainous terrain) is to pick up radials broadcast by the FAA's VHF Omni Range (VOR). As is true of most things in aviation, triangulating your position off the VOR is a challenging task and one that should be practiced.
If you and two of your friends want to meet for lunch, coffee or a long-awaited reunion, finding the midpoint between the three of you is a good way to split the travel expenses. It also ensures that you each will drive a comparable amount of time to reach your destination, resulting in all of you arriving at around the same time. Determine the midpoint between your three locations with the help of some simple mathematics.
Zero Halliburton cases are extremely durable traveling companions, able to withstand a lot of use and more than a little abuse. They also come with three-digit combination locks to help ensure no one can get into your case unless they have a lot of time or the proper pass code. If you don't like the preset numbers, you can change the combination to something you'd find easier to remember.
If you're a frequent flier, you're likely familiar with the world of frequent-flier programs. Flying miles -- also known as "frequent-flier miles" or "air miles" -- cover the distance an airplane travels from one point to another. Most airlines have individual programs where customers accumulate flying miles to gain free tickets, freebies, and upgrades of airline seats. Aside from boarding planes and traveling, there are alternative techniques to accumulate flying miles. This idea even extends to some credit card companies, where flying miles might be offered for purchases made on a person's card.
Ships and airplanes calculate distances and speeds using nautical miles and knots, where one knot is the equivalent of one nautical mile per hour. Because of the long distances involved, navigation at sea and in the air have always been based on degrees of longitude and latitude, a concept that has now spilled over into space navigation, and will probably continue to be used for years to come. A latitude and longitude position cannot easily be expressed any other way.
Embark combination locks are approved for luggage by the Transportation Security Administration, TSA. This means that if you need your luggage inspected, TSA officials can use a special tool to open the lock without having to break it. If you want to change the combination on an Embark lock before your next trip, the process is actually a fairly simple one if you know the existing combination to the lock.
There are a number of reasons to figure the midpoint between two locations for a specific set of directions. When arranging custody pickup and drop-off points, going on vacation or traveling for business, the midpoint of a journey can offer a good stopping point for the night or a valuable meeting location. The midpoint is simply the average between two points and is relatively easy to compute mathematically. Perhaps more valuable is the ability to convert that mathematical number into location information along your planned route.
Calculating air miles requires some basic tools. A Visual Flight Reference sectional and aviation plotter, a small device that resembles a ruler with a ratio scale on the measurements, are needed for precise air mile measurements. These measurements are crucial to calculating fuel needs, trip time and estimated arrival times. Calculating air miles is frequently done with GPS devices since the advent of the new technology. However, it is a good idea to know how to calculate the air distance the old-fashioned way as a solid redundancy for air safety and good pilotage.
For any pilot flying a cross-country flight (any flight over 50 nautical miles between airports), calculating the air miles of the course is crucial. This data is used to determine the fuel used, time spent in the air and estimated time of arrival. The flying miles calculation is made using FAA visual flight reference sectionals. Sectionals include information on distance, obstacles, air space, frequencies to use and airports, to name a few.
Private and commercial pilots rely on sectional aeronautical charts. These charts are available for visual flight reference (VFR) and instrument flight reference (IFR). Most sectionals used are the VFR charts. When you first view a sectional, it seems overwhelming because of the various frequency codes, color-coded circles, solid and broken lines and striation marks. Over time, the charts become second nature. Charts are used to plot flights, avoid obstacles and locate airports.
A rivet is a small, usually round, fastener that comes in a range of shapes and sizes. According to "Old House Journal," rivets consist of very rudimentary technology, "bars of soft iron with a convex head formed onto one end." Unlike screws and nuts, the technology is far simpler but used on massive pieces of construction such as steel bridges and ocean liners. You can find copper or brass rivets on luggage, as well, where they usually act as purely ornamental. If you find the rivets too flashy for your taste, you can easily remove them without damaging the surrounding…
Warwick is famous for being the site where the first shot of the American Revolution was fired. Whether you are in Rhode Island to take in some history or for business reasons, there is no shortage of accommodations in Warwick near the airport. Warwick's TF Green airport is located off I-95 and 10 minutes from Providence, Rhode Island's capital. The airport serves more than four million passengers per year with several major airlines serving the airport. For travelers looking for convenience after their flight, there are a number of hotels that are within two miles of the airport and several…
Technology allows luggage to be electronically screened, though there are times when a physical inspection is required. Only those individuals responsible for our security know when physical inspections are necessary. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspects airplane baggage for compliance with strict regulations. Unlocked suitcases can be easily inspected without damage to your bag or belongings. Locks complicate the process by requiring a key or combination. Prevent your locks from being cut by choosing TSA-recognized baggage locks. TSA officials can open these locks without damage or delay.
The National Airspace System (NAS) consists of a vast network of air traffic controllers, facilities and equipment responsible for the safe operation of commercial and private aircraft. While the primary concern of air traffic controllers is safety, they must also ensure that planes are directed efficiently to minimize delays while encouraging the flow of traffic through designated airspaces.
Body scanner machines have arrived in U.S. airports and many other countries to give the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, agents a better look at possible threats to airport security and to protect passengers. Many people feel this is a violation of their privacy and refuse to enter the machines. The alternative could be worse, a full-body pat-down by one of the agents. Some people have described the pat-down as just short of heavy petting, and some go as far as calling it groping. Being prepared and knowing what to expect will help you survive this inconvenience.
Chicago Midway International Airport is the second largest airport in Illinois --- after Chicago's O'Hare Airport --- and is located about 10 miles southwest of downtown. It has received awards for its physical design.
Tokyo's Narita International Airport is the second largest airport in Japan, and it is the airport through which most international travelers enter Japan. The Japanese government touts Narita as the connection between Asia and the Americas.
Warsaw's Chopin Airport opened in 1934 and has become one of the leading airports in Europe and the world. The airport currently services 45 percent of air passenger traffic in Poland. In 2009, the airport served about 8.3 million passengers.
The Chattanooga Airport is a few miles from the city center of Chattanooga and its flights have a number of destinations in the northeast and southern United States. It is a small airport with two runways and the parking area is situated close to the main terminal.
Thanks to the Internet, you no longer have to depend on calling each airline to find out how many miles your trip could add to your frequent flyer account. If you have several itineraries as options for your next trip, you can look them all up online before making a reservation to find out how many miles each will give you. You might choose to take the longest trip to add to your frequent flyer points.
Cancún is one of Mexico's most popular tourist destinations in part because of its mild climate and sandy beaches. Home to the second largest airport in Mexico and one of the largest in the Carribean, Cancún is famous for its marinas and water sports, sailing, fishing and snorkeling. Cancún International Airport (CUN) is known as the point of entry to "Mundo Mayo," or World of Maya. International flights on major airlines depart and arrive at the airport, located about 13 miles southwest of Cancún.
The Dominican Republic is located on the island of Hispaniola. As the second largest Caribbean Island, Hispaniola contains two countries: the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The Dominican Republic is located southeast of both Florida and Cuba and is a popular Caribbean vacation destination for travelers.
The Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is located on 30 square miles in Irving, Texas, between Dallas and Fort Worth. The airport accommodates more than 150,000 passengers each day, the eighth largest passenger flow in the world. The airport is a major hub for American Airlines, making up 60 percent of the airport traffic passengers connecting through the Dallas airport to another destination. Eighteen passenger airlines operate at the airport, including seven foreign airlines.
Aeronautical sectional charts are for fixed wing aircraft that fly under Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Visual Flight Rules (VFR). These rules govern flying by sight. Under VFR, a pilot plots a course along a route that allows confirmation of location via visual elements on the ground. Thus, sectional charts are filled with surface data that help the pilot to do this in a safe and responsible manner. This data can be collected into nine categories of critical information: topography, obstructions, text, airports and airport data, airspace, communication, compass and miscellaneous.
T.F. Green Airport, located outside of Providence, Rhode Island, is Rhode Island's major airport. Some of its carriers include Air Canada, Continental, US Airways, Southwest and Delta.
Windsocks can be found in many locations performing a variety of tasks. At its core however, the windsock's intended purpose is to indicate wind direction and velocity.
