Advanced Piloting

This site is provided as a means of communications with the USPS National Inland and Coastal Navigation Committee (ICNCom).  We welcome your questions and comments on our modules, Guides, and associated materials.

R/C Richard W. McGaughy, JN
Stf/C Luther Abel, SN
Stf/C John P. Cook, SN

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News

Rose Point Navigation Systems Coastal Explorer Reference Manual. An electronic copy (1248KB, PDF) of the Coast Explorer Reference Manual is available for download. (24 Jul 10)

Latest In Navigation Tools and Techniques, Chapter 6 of the Advanced Piloting Course. The AP course manual indicates that this chapter will be updated periodically and provided as a supplement. It is available under Downloadable Material on this web site. It may be downloaded by anyone interested. Instructors may print and provide it to students if they desire. This is not part of the graded course material. (05 Jan 10)

Updates. The PowerPoint presentations for Advanced Piloting have been updated and improved significantly. Piloting and AP CD version 6 contains these presentations. The CD can be procured separately through the catalog. (03 Apr 09)

How to Pass the Final Exam. A short PowerPoint presentation How to Pass the Final Exam has been added under Downloadable Material. It covers many of the most common mistakes made by students that lower their scores on the final exam. We strongly suggest you present it to your class just before you hand out the final exam. (21 Oct 08)

Speed Precision Standard Changed. As a result of numerous comments and requests, ICNCom has reviewed the standard for showing boat speed. It has been changed so that knots and tenths of a knot are shown for all speeds, not just speeds below 10.0 knots as previously. This change is reflected in the updated 2008 Plotting and Labeling Standard available under Downloadable Material. Until all printed Advanced Piloting material has been updated, students will not be penalized on exams if they show speeds in accordance with the previous standard (two digits of precision). (07 Oct 08)

Updated Plotting and Labeling Standards for Advanced Piloting 2005 (AP 05) are available on this page under Downloadable Material.   (31 Jul 08)

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Advanced Piloting Description

This all-new course continues to build coastal and inland navigation skill, allowing the student to take on more challenging conditions – unfamiliar waters, limited visibility, and extended cruises.  GPS is embraced as a primary navigation tool while adding radar, chartplotters, and other electronic navigation tools.  As with Piloting, the course includes many in-class exercises, advancing the student’s skills through hands-on practice and learning.   Topics covered include:

• Review of skills learned in Piloting
• Advanced positioning techniques such as advancing a line of position
• Other electronics:  radar, depth sounders, autopilots, chartplotters, laptop computer software, etc.
• Hazard avoidance techniques using electronics (e.g., “keep out” zones in GPS)
• Collision avoidance using radar and GPS
• Working with tides: clearances, depth, effects of current
• Piloting with wind and currents
• The “Seaman’s Eye” – simple skills for checking that one is on course

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Downloadable Material

Rose Point Navigation Systems Coastal Explorer Reference Manual

An electronic copy (1248KB, PDF) of the Coast Explorer Reference Manual is available for download. (24 Jul 10)

Latest In Navigation Tools and Techniques, Chapter 6 of the Advanced Piloting Course

The next update to the Advanced Piloting Manual will include a brief description of and introduction to the latest in navigational tools and techniques. This downloadable PDF version (1372KB) is available for anyone who desires it. Instructors are welcome to download and print this material for their AP students. (05 Jan 10)

Advanced Piloting Updates

The following updates represent changes and corrections to the original 2005 Advanced Piloting course. They have been reflected in the second printing of the Student Manual, marked "Copyright 2005 Rev. 2" on page ii, and to the Instructor Manual dated 2008. If you have an older version of these manuals, you may need to incorporate the following changes.

• Advanced Piloting Student Manual 2005    SM-UPDATE No. 1
• Advanced Piloting Instructor Manual 2005  IM-UPDATE No. 1

Forms and Standards

The following AP forms and standard may be printed for use by USPS members by clicking on the form or standard name.  They must be viewed or printed using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

• Prediction Of Tidal Current And Direction(AP 2005, Fig 8-3) (41KB)
• Prediction of High and Low Tides (AP 2005, Fig. 7-4) (31KB)
• Deck Log Form (AP 95 page SM 8-10)  (11KB)
• Plotting & Labeling Standards for Advanced Piloting (AP 05)(Updated 2008)  (59KB)

How to Pass the Final Exam

This PowerPoint presentation (289KB) covers the most common mistakes made by students on the final exam.  It is strongly suggested that you present this to your class immediately before or after handing out the final exam.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Following are some questions that are frequently asked of the committee.

1.  QUESTION:  Why does our Advanced Piloting (AP) instructor continually remind us to show all calculations when solving problems?

• ANSWER:  The reason for requiring calculations is to establish good habits.  Doing each calculations on paper enhances understanding of Advanced Piloting and tends to produce results that are more accurate than those obtained using "mental" calculations.  The documentation of the calculations allows the exam reviewer to give partial credit for solutions to both Open Book as well as Closed Book examination problems even when the answer is incorrect.  By showing one's work or the method used to solve a problem, the reviewer can determine whether an incorrect answer resulted from a misunderstanding of the subject or from an "I knew that" arithmetic error.  On determining that the AP candidate does, in fact, understand the subject material, the reviewer may add points to the exam score.  In some cases exams that examiners have determined were "did not pass" exams become "pass" exams.

• ANSWER:  The plot provides a record of where you intend to go and then a record of where you have been.  Without the labels on the bearing and track lines on a chart or plotting chart, the boat's operator will very shortly be unable to tell what the various lines mean especially on a detailed plot.  Along with showing all calculation methods in the exam problems, the labels affixed to a plot allow the exam reviewer to judge the AP candidate's understanding of the AP course material.

• ANSWER:  Typically your exam administrator sends the entire examination package to USPS Headquarters in Raleigh, NC. The examination papers are then forwarded to an examiner who determines if the answers are correct.
• The examiner grades the exams, reflecting partial credit for showing work that demonstrates the AP candidate's "ability to do AP", and then prepares a detailed critique of the Open Book examination for examinations that achieve a grade of 50% or higher.
• The examinations and critique sheets are sent to your Squadron Educational Officer to be returned to each AP Candidate.  The student will find the numerical grade on the front page (in the upper right corner) of the exam paper.
• The record of the grades is sent to Headquarters for recording on the student's records.

• ANSWER:  The material in the AP Course Student Manual is protected by copyright, however copies may be made for USPS member use only.  This permission does not include or extend to commercial uses or distribution.

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Questions or Comments?

If you have any questions or comments about the Piloting course, please contact the National Inland and Coastal Navigation Committee chairman by e-mail, phone or postal service mail.  Please be sure to keep your SEO and/or DEO advised of any correspondence you may have with the National committee. Addresses for the National ICNCom chairman are listed in The ENSIGN and on the Committee Chairpersons page.

We will try to answer your questions as soon as possible, but please allow 5 working days for an answer.

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