Navigation You Decide Scenario

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You Decide
Decision-Making Scenario

In this exercise, you are a private pilot making a flight from Jackson County airport in Jackson, Michigan to Capital City airport in Lansing, Michigan. You are flying a Piper Seneca V, with three passengers on board. You are not instrument rated, and will be making the flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR). With full fuel tanks, you take off from Jackson for your flight of approximately 32 nautical miles.

The flight plan that you filed lists Capital City as your primary destination airport. Abrams airport, seven miles to the west, is listed as your alternate airport. You take off late in the day, and have calculated that you will land at Capital City fifty minutes after sunset. You consider this timing to be important, since you have not made a night landing in over six months.

As you near the area of Lansing you notice that, even though it is not night yet, the ground is getting dark. You are looking forward to runway lights aiding your landing. Looking ahead, you notice thick haze in the direction of your destination. Concerned about the lack of visibility from the deepening twilight and the haze, you contact the Flight Service Station for an update on local conditions.

When you click on the View Flight link below, you will see your flight path along the sectional chart for the area, and hear the response from the Flight Service Station. Use that information, along with this scenario description and any appropriate links in the Resource List below to decide where you should land.

An interactive application appears here showing the details of the flight. A description of that application follows. Upon approaching the destination, the Flight Service Station briefer informs you that a large brush fire in the area of your destination is causing reduced visibility. Visibility at Capital City Airport is reduced to one quarter mile, smoke and haze. Visibility at Abrams airport is reduced to one half mile, smoke and haze. Visibility at all other airports in the area of Lansing and Grand Ledge is greater than VFR minimums. A view of the sectional chart shows a number of uncontrolled airports in the area. Airbatco is a private airport with a 2000 foot unlit runway. Archer is a private airport with a 2500 foot unlit runway. Maidens airport has a 2000 foot unlit runway. Eichmeier is a private airport with a 2000 foot unlit runway. Forest Hill airport has a 2100 foot unlit runway. Beach airport has a 3500 foot runway that is lit with pilot controlled lighting. Hoerners is a private airport with a 2300 foot unlit runway. University airport has a 2000 foot runway lit with pilot controlled lighting. Wisner is a private airport with a 1300 foot unlit runway. Mason Jewett airport has a 4000 foot runway lit with pilot controlled lighting. Skyway airport has a 2600 foot runway lit with pilot controlled lighting. Wend Valley airport has an 1800 foot unlit runway. Using this information and the appropriate links in the resource list below, it is up to you to decide where to land.

Resource List

Radio Navigation
INS
Fuel Requirement
Night Landing Requirements
Pilot Controlled Lighting
Airspace Classes and VFR Minimums
Seneca Specifications

Runway and Taxiway
Control Tower
Elements of Flight Planning
VOR
Fuel Consumption
Airport Data
Transponder Basics
VFR and IFR

You Decide Intro
Decision-Making Process