Flight Navigator certificate. Still possible?

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Anyone know of a school that allows one to earn a FAA Flight Navigator license?

The intent is to learn about the old ways, knowing there is no practical purpose....

 

[VNugget]

No idea where you can get the training, but you might wanna check out the regs under which the certificate is issued. Good luck and let us know if you turn anything up.

I wanna get a FE cert. with a recip. rating for the same reason.

 

[MauleSkinner]

Anyone know of a school that allows one to earn a FAA Flight Navigator license?

The intent is to learn about the old ways, knowing there is no practical purpose....

They haven't been issuing Flight Navigator certificates for a couple of decades at least...the only exception that I know of is the guy who flew the Vickers Vimy replica (I think that's what it was) across the Atlantic.

There's a fairly large chunk of flight navigation practice required...you'll need an airplane with an astrodome for starters.

Fly safe!

David

 

[JimNtexas]

In the late 70s some of the IN's at Mather got FAA Navigator certificates. I think the FAA rode on regular USAF nav training flights to give the checkrides.

I wonder why there is no conversion of a military nav rating.

I do recall that the last U.S. civilian airline navigator was on Flying Tiger, which phased out Navs in 1974.

 

[gkrangers]

What kind of navigation are we talking about? I'm guess not your average VOR to VOR stuff?

 

[MauleSkinner]

What kind of navigation are we talking about? I'm guess not your average VOR to VOR stuff?

Celestial, DR, Pressure Pattern, LORAN (more thoroughly into the theory than the LORAN ops I used to do, probably)...can't remember what else is involved, but Part 63, Subpart C outlines the requirements.

Fly safe!

David

 

[VNugget]

In the vein of this thread... does anyone know where you can take FE checkrides in/near California?

 

[wmuflyguy]

Sec. 63.55

Experience requirements.

(a) An applicant for a flight navigator certificate must be a graduate of a flight navigator course approved by the Administrator or present satisfactory documentary evidence of --
(1) Satisfactory determination of his position in flight at least 25 times by night by celestial observations and at least 25 times by day by celestial observations in conjunction with other aids; and
(2) At least 200 hours of satisfactory flight navigation including celestial and radio navigation and dead reckoning.

A pilot who has logged 500 hours of cross-country flight time, of which at least 100 hours were at night, may be credited with not more than 100 hours for the purposes of paragraph (a)(2) of this section.

(b) Flight time used exclusively for practicing long-range navigation methods, with emphasis on celestial navigation and dead reckoning, is considered to be satisfactory navigation experience for the purposes of paragraph (a) of this section. It must be substantiated by a logbook, by records of an armed force or a certificated air carrier, or by a letter signed by a certificated flight navigator and attached to the application.

Oh an for the Checkride Appendix A of Part 63 says: You must provide an aircraft in which Celestial Observations may be taken in any directions.

Check out the rest of Appendix A for what you have to do on the checkride.


I bet there isn't even a DPE around to do this stuff anymore.

 

[JimNtexas]

I wonder why as an graduate of Air Force navigation school why I couldn't take an equilency exam for the FAA nav rating? It seems unfair somehow. I'm old enough to have studied pressure patterns, day and night cel, and use of driftmeters.

As far as providing an airplane from which Celestial Observations may be taken, you could rent a classic B747, B707, or DC-8. I think most of them have a sextant port.

 

[DrProc]

There was an article several months ago about a United Captain who got his nav license. He was also the guy who flew the Vimy across the pond. He said there was only one FAA examiner left in the country that could issue the certificate. Good luck.