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, Learning Guides, and associated materials.
R/C Richard W. McGaughy, JN
Stf/C Luther Abel, SN
Stf/C John P. Cook, SN
Topics
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News
Updated 2011 Piloting Manual
The updated Piloting Manual (2011 Edition) is now available for ordering. The manual includes four Bowditch Bay charts. This number of charts included was reduced from previous printings because of the increasing cost of printing and including fold out sheets in the manual, and indications that not all were always used. Additional charts can be ordered from the Supplemental Items For Advanced Grades section of the on-line catalog. Charts can be erased and used more than once. They also can be reproduced.
USCG District 9 Charts for Use in Coastal Explorer Express Program
The previous (February 3, 2010) CD version of Rose Point's Coastal Explorer Express viewer program may have a corrupted zip file for the charts of USCG District 9. If you have a problem loading USCG District 9 charts from your CD, download a good copy of the zip file (254,458KB) and install it in Coastal Explorer. (22 Nov 11)
Two Weekend Navigator Editions In Existence
The Piloting course materials contain numerous references to the Weekend Navigator. Two editions of Weekend Navigator now exist. The recently issued edition has the words “Second Edition” on the cover. The Second Edition contains the chapters in the original, with an additional new chapter 19 on the subject of AIS. This results in the material covered in the original chapters 19 and above now being in chapters numbered one higher—20 and above.
When using present course materials with the Second Edition of Weekend Navigator, take into account the change in chapter numbers. The next revisions of the Piloting manuals will be updated to reflect this change in chapter numbers. (22 Nov 11)
Computer Tool for P and AP Students
There is a Windows computer tool/program with several applications, some of which are suitable for use by Inland and Coastal Navigation students as well as Offshore Navigations students. See the Downloadable Material section for details. (28 Sep 11)
USPS Local Telephone Number in Course Manuals
Some 2009 Piloting course student manuals have an incorrect local telephone number for USPS Headquarters on the Acknowledgements Page. The correct local telephone number is 919-821-0281. The toll-free number is still 1-888-367-8777 (1-888-FOR-USPS). (21 Dec 10)
How to Pass the Final Exam
A short PowerPoint presentation How to Pass the Final Exam has been revised 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. (02 Dec 10)
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)
Revision 4 of Piloting 2009
Piloting 2009 Rev 4 was shipped with the Rose Point Coastal Viewer charting program instead of the earlier Maptech software. There was no change to the individual chapters in the Student Guide/Manual; however Appendix B has been replaced; it now describes the use of Coastal Viewer instead of MapTech You can identify Rev 4 by its cover; instead of saying "Student Manual" or "Student Guide" it now says only "Piloting." There is a typo on the frontispiece—the obverse side has "Rev 3" in the lower corner. The reverse side correctly identifies it as Rev 4. Since the instructional material has not changed, Rev 3 Student Guides can still be used in teaching the Piloting 2009 course. (11 May 10)
Piloting 2009 Manual Errata
In 2008 the standard for labeling speed was revised from “two significant digits” to the more traditional “tenth of a knot.” Unfortunately, this change was omitted in some places in the 2008 Instructor Manual and 2006 Student Guide. (14 May 09)
- 2008 Instructor Manual
Page vii: An older version of the Piloting Plotting and Labeling Standards is shown with two-digit speeds. (Fortunately, the Plotting and Labeling Standards included in the Student Guide is correct.)
Page 77: Delete all information on page 77 (13 Jan 11)
Page 169: An older version of the Piloting Cruise solution with two-digit speeds is shown. The most current plot, downloadable below, has been corrected to show speeds to tenths.
Page 180: The solution to Exercise 7-1 shows two-digit speeds. PowerPoint slide 7-9 shows correct speed annotation.
- 2006 Rev 3 Student Guide
Page 44: Figure 3-1 incorrectly asks for two-digit speeds. PowerPoint slide 3-9 shows the correct version of this illustration, calling for speeds to tenths.
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 Plotting and Labeling Standard available under Downloadable Material. Until all printed 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
Updated plotting and labeling standards for Piloting 2005 (P 05) are available on this page under Downloadable Material. (16 Jun 11)
Piloting Course Description
Piloting is the first course in the sequence of USPS courses on navigation, covering the basics of coastal and inland navigation. This course focuses on navigation as it is done on recreational boats today and embraces GPS as a primary navigation tool while covering enough of traditional techniques so the student will be able to find his/her way even if their GPS fails. The course includes many in-class exercises, developing the student’s skills through hands-on practice and learning. Ten classes of two hours each normally are scheduled for presentation of this course. In addition the students have seven days to complete the open book exam. Topics covered include:
- Charts and their interpretation
- Navigation aids and how they point to safe water
- Plotting courses and determining direction and distance
- The mariner’s compass and converting between True and Magnetic
- Use of GPS – typical GPS displays and information they provide, setting up waypoints and routes, staying on a GPS route.
- Pre-planning safe courses and entering them into the GPS
- Monitoring progress and determining position by both GPS and traditional techniques such as bearings and dead reckoning
- The “Seaman’s Eye” – simple skills for checking that one is on course.
Downloadable Material
USCG District 9 Charts for Use in Coastal Explorer Express Program
The previous (February 3, 2010) CD version of Rose Point's Coastal Explorer Express viewer program may have a corrupted zip file for the charts of USCG District 9. If you have a problem loading District 9 charts from your CD, download a good copy of the zip file (254,458KB) and install it in Coastal Explorer. Note that this is a rather large file and may take some time to download depending on your Internet connection speed. The procedure to download and install the file is as follows:
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Click on this link to download the zip file, browse to your "C:\Charts" folder/directory, and save the zip file to this folder/directory.
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Start Coastal Explorer Express.
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Click on the menu icon to "Access program options, install charts, and configure electronics.", and select "Install Charts..." from the pull-down menu.
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In the resulting window, click on the "Install charts from a ZIP file..." option.
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Browse to your "C:\Charts" folder/directory if it doesn't come up automatically.
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Click on the file you just downloaded, which should be named "09CGD_RNCs.zip", then click "Open" or "OK". You should get a message that the charts are being installed and that it may take a little while to complete.
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Close the window after the charts are installed. You can then check that the charts are installed by using the Chart Portfolio to see all the charts you have installed. (22 Nov 11)
Celestial Tools Use by Piloting Students
Celestial Tools is a Windows program intended primarily as an aid for sight planning and rough checking of sights for celestial navigation courses. Celestial Tools also incorporates components that will assist in performing DR calculations, 60D=ST, Distance to Horizon, TVMDC, and current calculations. These elements will be helpful to students of Piloting and Advanced Piloting to verify calculations. Get Celestial Tools from the ONCom Tools and Software web page. (28 Sep 11)
How to Pass the Final Exam
This PowerPoint presentation (543KB) 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. (02 Dec 10)
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)
Standards
The following Piloting standards may be printed for use by USPS members by clicking on the standard name. They must be viewed or printed using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Plotting and Labeling Standard (P 2005)(Updated 2011)) (56KB)
- Piloting Cruise (P 2008) instructor notes (474KB)(28 Jul 09)
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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