Section 3. Aircraft Orientation

1. ACTIONS REQUIRED

When providing orientation services to an aircraft in emergency status, determine the following:

1. If the aircraft is in visual or instrument meteorological conditions, fuel remaining in time, altitude, and heading.
2. If the aircraft is operating in instrument meteorological conditions, coordinate with the appropriate control facility.
3. If the aircraft is on a flight plan. If the aircraft is not on an IFR flight plan and is in visual meteorological conditions, advise the pilot to remain VFR.

1. SAFE ALTITUDES FOR ORIENTATIONS

1. Providing a safe altitude, during an orientation, is advisory in nature.
2. Safe altitude computations, once the aircraft position is known, are as follows:

1. Locate the maximum elevation figure on the appropriate VFR sectional chart.
2. To the maximum elevation figure:

1. Add 1,000 feet over non-mountainous terrain; or
2. Add 2,000 feet over mountainous terrain.

1. Designated mountainous/non-mountainous areas are found in 14 CFR 95, subpart b.

1. GENERAL

1. Orient an aircraft by the means most appropriate to the circumstances.
2. If necessary, plot the flight path of the aircraft on a chart or operating system, including position reports, predicted positions, possible range of flight, and any other pertinent information.
3. Solicit the assistance of other aircraft known to be operating near the aircraft in distress.
4. Forward the information to the appropriate control facility.
5. The following offers guidance for providing orientation services:

1. Advise the pilot to remain VFR, and provide local altimeter setting.

1. Obtain heading and altitude. Advise the pilot to maintain straight and level flight and to align the heading indicator with the magnetic compass.

1. Determine the weather conditions and fuel status.

1. Advise the pilot to maintain the same heading, verify the aircraft has ADF equipment, and determine the airspeed.

1. AUTOMATIC DIRECTION FINDER

1. Position fixing.

1. Advise the pilot to tune the automatic direction finder (ADF) receiver to the non-directional beacon (NDB). Provide the NDB name, identifier, and frequency.

1. After acknowledgment has been received, advise the pilot to set the ADF function switch to the ADF position and report the reading.

1. Compute the magnetic bearing.

1. Relative bearing (RB) + magnetic heading (MH) = magnetic bearing (MB)
2. If the MB exceeds 360 degrees, subtract 360 to determine MB

1. Advise the pilot of direction from the NDB.

1. Orientation.

1. Turn the aircraft inbound to the NDB being used. Provide the direction of the turn and the heading to be flown. Advise the pilot to report when established on that heading.

1. Notify the appropriate control facility. Provide all required information including the aircraft's position and heading.
2. Verify that the aircraft is established on a line of position to the NDB.

1. Provide heading adjustments as needed for the aircraft to continue inbound to the NDB.

1. If the pilot indicates an ADF reading other than 3-6-0, compute the new heading and advise the aircraft.

1. After pilot reports established and needle is on 3-6-0, heading adjustments are not necessary.

1. Cross-fixing. After the aircraft is established inbound to the NDB, use the following procedures:

1. Advise the pilot to tune the ADF receiver to the NDB to be used for cross-fixing. Provide the NDB name, identifier, and frequency.

1. After acknowledgment has been received, request ADF reading.

1. Compute and plot the second line of position.

1. Advise the pilot of the aircraft's position and the safe altitude for orientation in that area.

1. Request pilot's intentions and provide assistance, as requested.

1. VOR CROSS-FIX

1. Position fixing.

1. If the pilot calls on a simplex frequency, such as 122.2, advise the pilot to tune the receiver to the VOR you have selected. Provide the VOR name, frequency, and communication procedures.

1. Determine the aircraft's course selector reading.

1. Advise the pilot of the aircraft's position.

1. Orientation.

1. Turn the aircraft inbound to the VOR being used. Provide the direction of the turn and the heading to be flown. Advise the pilot to report when established on that heading.

1. Notify the appropriate control facility. Provide all required information including the aircraft's position and heading.
2. Verify that the aircraft is established on a line of position to the VOR.

1. Provide heading adjustments as needed for the aircraft to continue inbound to the VOR.

1. When the pilot indicates the left/right needle is not centered, advise the pilot to recenter needle with a “to” indication and report the course selector reading.

1. After the aircraft is established on the inbound radial, advise the aircraft to continue on the inbound heading.

1. Plot line of position.

1. Cross-fixing. After the aircraft is established inbound to the VOR, use the following procedures:

1. Advise the pilot to tune the receiver to the VOR you have selected for cross-fixing. Provide VOR name, frequency, and lost communications procedures.

1. Using only the voice feature of the second VOR, establish positive communication with the aircraft.

1. After communication has been reestablished, advise the pilot to recenter the VOR left/right needle and advise the reading.

1. If the pilot is transmitting on duplex (122.1) and the cross fix VOR has no voice capability, provide the following instructions.

1. Advise the pilot to continue the inbound heading.

1. Plot the new line of position from the second VOR, advise the pilot of the aircraft's position, and the safe altitude for orientation in that area.

1. Request pilot's intentions and provide assistance, as requested.

1. GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM (GPS)

Use the following procedures for global positioning system (GPS) orientation:

1. Advise pilot to turn on the GPS or if GPS is turned on, advise pilot to turn it off and back on.
2. Advise pilot to report when GPS is initialized.

1. Ask pilot for position information.

1. Latitude and longitude.
2. Fix radial distance from NAVAID, airport, or fix.

1. Plot the position of aircraft.

1. Advise the pilot of the aircraft's position and the safe altitude for orientation in that area.

1. Notify the appropriate control facility. Provide all required information including the aircraft's position and heading.
2. Request pilot's intentions and provide assistance, as requested.

1. GUIDANCE TO AIRPORT

After establishing the aircraft's position and if the pilot requests guidance to the airport:

1. Plot the course to the airport.
2. Provide the course guidance information to the pilot.

1. Advise the pilot of the direction of the turn and the heading to the airport.

1. After the pilot reports established on the heading to the airport, advise the pilot of the position in relation to the airport.

1. Continue to provide assistance in the form of pilotage and airport information as necessary.

1. Advise the pilot to report the landing airport in sight.

1. Determine when the pilot no longer needs assistance.

1. When the pilot indicates assistance is no longer required, terminate the service. Provide the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) frequency, if appropriate, and the local altimeter setting.

1. Notify appropriate control facility of the aircraft's position, termination of services, and the pilot's intentions.