How to Compile our Report
(by L. Querzoni)

Small Glossary

• ATO: Actual time over a point.
• ETO: Estimated time over a point.
• ATE: Actual time en Route.
• ETE: Estimated time en Route.
• FIX: The intersection of two lines of position or position of an aircraft at a given time.
• HDG: is the direction in which is pointing the aircraft.
• QNH: To display altitude accurately, the altimeter must be set to the current barometric pressure adjusted to sea-level pressure. Before takeoff, the pilot turns a setting knob to set the correct pressure. When properly set, the altimeter indicates the airport elevation -not zero- before the airplane takes off.

Compiling the Report

In the following page we will talk about compiling the report (included in you flight as a TXT file), very important task for a Mediterranea pilot.

The purpose of this document is to verify how the flight was made so we can proceed in paying the flight hours to the pilot and his virtual salary.

Of course the information contained herein because of its semplicity is by no mean precise nor complete. For a complete explanation of the argument you can get a book that will be more exhaustive and treat the argument in a more professional manner.

I have divided the LOG in different parts as to make it easier in treating the argument.

This is the first part:

    -------------------------------------------------------------    
    NAVIGATION LOG
    -------------------------------------------------------------    
    Aircraft Ident:
    Pilot:
    Date:
    -------------------------------------------------------------    
    Clearance: 
    

On the first line you should insert the identication and the name of the aircraft which will be used for the flight.

Then insert you ID and your name; last the date in which you made the flight. On the following lines, reserved for the clearance, you should insert the clearance given by ATC.

For the moment you'll have to do without the ATC, so you can insert your route as planned for the flight.

This is the most important part of the report:

    -------------------------------------------------------------   
    CHK-PNT  | Frequency |HDG| ALT |Wind| Distance  | ETE | ETO |   
    or FIXES | VOR | NDB |   | (FL)|    | Leg/Remain| ATE | ATO |   
    -------------------------------------------------------------   
    Take off |     |     |   |     |    |           |     |     |   
    Top      |     |     |   |     |    |           |     |     |   
    ...      |     |     |   |     |    |           |     |     |   
    ...      |     |     |   |     |    |           |     |     |   
    ...      |     |     |   |     |    |           |     |     |   
    Landing  |     |     |   |     |    |           |     |     |   
    ---------|-----|-----|---|-----|----|-----------|-----|-----|   
    Alternate|     |     |   |     |    |           |     |     |   
    -------------------------------------------------------------   
    

In the first column you should indicate the points that determine your route: they can be airports (takeoff, landing, alternate), navigation radios (VORs and NDBs), FIXs or imaginary points where something happens (like TOP which indicates TOP of Climb, or DESCENT, point in which the aircraft starts to descend).

Airports, navigation radios and FIXs should be indicated with their IDs.

For each point in your route you should insert the following information: for navigation radios you have to insert their frequency (could be useful to put the ILS frequency in the VOR cell of an airport), right after you should put your heading to reach that point, the altitude in Flight Level, the estimated wind correction heading on the basis of the wind, distance in nautical miles from the preceeding fix to the actual. Right after, always in miles, the remaining distance upto the point where the approach fase begins (Distance Leg/Remaining), estimated time/actual time en route, which is the time it should take you to reach the point from the preceeding point (ETE/ATE), finally estimated time/actual time over (ETO/ATO). The time should always be , indicated in minutes. The names of the airports should be indicated instead of Take off, Landing, Alternate.

Measuring the time is something quite annoying, but Mediterranea pretends that its pilots respect the assigned time for a flight, so you will have to do it.

Write down the hour of takeoff in the corresponding ATO cell: this will help you calculate when you run out of fuel, even if your fuel gauges stop working. Your total ETE is known (you'll find it in your flight plan) so you can write it down right away as your final ETO.

During the flight, write down your ATO every time you fly over a point; comparing it to the preceding ATO you wil obtain the ATE at your current point; dividing the length between the two point (LEG) by the ATE, you will obtain your ground speed which will permit you to calculate your ETO for the next point.

In this way you will always know if you are anticipating or if you are late on the estimated, which enables you to correct your speed accordingly.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------   
    TAKE-OFF DATA  
    ---------------------------------------------------------------   
    RWY|Trans Lev| Time | Wind | Visibility | Clouds | Temp | QNH |   
    ---------------------------------------------------------------   
       |         |      |      |            |        |      |     |   
    ---------------------------------------------------------------   
    LANDING DATA  
    ---------------------------------------------------------------   
    RWY|Trans Lev| Time | Wind | Visibility | Clouds | Temp | QNH |   
    ---------------------------------------------------------------   
       |         |      |      |            |        |      |     |   
    ---------------------------------------------------------------   
    

Most of the data that you have to insert here is clear. I'll talk about a few points that may seem difficult.

The QNH (altimeter) is given by ATIS which is generally present in all the sceneries that you shall use.

It is important to insert the QNH of the arrival airport as soon as you leave the transition level or the last assigned flight level, or else you will find yourself with the altimeter indicating the wrong altitude and you can imagine what will happen when landing.

The Trans Level usually is assigned by ATC, but you can also read them on the approach maps of the airports.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------   
    FUEL CALCULATION AND FUEL REQUIRED  
    ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Fuel rate:  

    Subtotal to first landing - Minutes/Gallons(Liters): /  
    Subtotal to alternate - Minutes/Gallons(Liters) : /  
    Reserve - Minutes/Gallons(Lites) : /  
    Taxy / Run-up - Gallons(Liters) :   

    TOTAL :
    

The fuel calculation is not required yet, but Mediterranea may make it compulsory later on. So why not start practising.

The Fuel Rate gives the quantity of fuel which is used per hour of flight; the subtotal upto the first landing indicates, in minutes/gallons, the time necessary from takeoff to landing; next follows the subtotal to cover the distance from the last waypoint and an alternate airport; then a third subtotal that should be evaluated as 45 minutes of flight time (the first two subtotals must be precise, while in the third you can put fuel that you have in excess); then you should also insert the estimated fuel consumption for taxying and runup at takeoff and landing; lastly insert the total.

IMPORTANT: The REPORT should be transmitted to your assigned Hub.