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Directions, Azimuths, Horizon

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Air Navigation

Part of the book series: Springer Aerospace Technology ((SAT))

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Abstract

This chapter presents orientation in space: directions, azimuths, and horizon. Astronomic positioning introduces the classical navigation methods, which are less useful in aviation for practical reasons, but still relevant. The horizon is particularly important to air navigation because most air navigation systems use radio waves, and the horizon is a key factor in radio waves propagation. The use of the magnetic field of the Earth and basic magnetic compass instruments are presented further. A synthesis of the key azimuths used in air navigation is followed by the gyroscopic and integrated flight instruments.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    This is + 2 m (magnitude) on a scale from –1.44 m, the brightest star in the sky (Sirius), to + 6 m, the least bright stars still visible in an ideally clear sky remote from big cities. Stars with magnitudes of + 7 m and up are only visible with light enhancement instruments, such as reflection telescopes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania

    Octavian Thor Pleter

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  1. Octavian Thor Pleter
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Correspondence to Octavian Thor Pleter .

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Pleter, O.T. (2024). Directions, Azimuths, Horizon. In: Air Navigation. Springer Aerospace Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52994-8_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-52994-8_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-52993-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-52994-8

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