Outline:

1. Why Estimating Matters in Aviation

   • Avoid following GPS and automation blindly.

   • Kickstart decision-making and navigation quickly.

   • Validate ForeFlight or onboard system outputs.

   • Support pilot-in-command decision making with mental math and TLAR logic (“That Looks About Right”).

2. Core Estimating Skills Every Pilot Needs

   • Estimate magnitude and direction of changes.

   • Ability to apply mental shortcuts to:

     • Time

     • Distance

     • Fuel

     • Heading

     • Descent/Climb Gradients

3. Essential Estimation Techniques

   • Time & Distance:

     • 60 knots = 1 NM per minute

     • 120 knots = 2 NM per minute

   • Fuel Flow (GPM):

     • Convert GPH to GPM: GPH ÷ 60

     • 10 GPH ≈ 0.2 GPM | 5 GPH ≈ 0.1 GPM

   • Heading Approximation:

     • Eyeball with nearby VORs.

     • Use pinch-to-zoom and two-finger tap in ForeFlight to verify heading.

   • Wind Drift:

     • Max Drift = (60 × wind velocity) ÷ true airspeed

4. Using the Watch Face for Wind Components

   • Crosswind Component:

     • Convert wind angle into minutes on a watch face.

     • 30° = 30 min = 50% crosswind component.

   • Headwind Component:

     • Subtract wind angle from 90 and interpret % remaining as headwind.

5.  Estimating Altitude, Descent, and Climb

   • Glide Path:

     • 3° = ~300 ft/NM | 4° = ~400 ft/NM

   • Climb Gradient Formula:

     • (Groundspeed ÷ 60) × climb gradient (in ft/NM)

   • Top of Descent (TOD):

     • (Altitude to lose ÷ 500) × speed in NM/min

6. In-Flight Adjustments

   • Track Error + Closing Angle:

     • Used to correct for actual winds and course deviation.

   • 1 in 60 Rule:

     • For every 1° off heading, you're 1 NM off course after 60 NM.

7. Practical Tools and Integration

   • Use ForeFlight to:

     • Visually verify estimates

     • Practice estimation techniques in the air and during preflight briefings

   • Teach Brief-Fly:

     • Integrates briefing visuals into ForeFlight for maneuver instruction

     • Teach Brief-Fly

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