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Which statement best distinguishes pilotage from dead reckoning?

Choices

  • ✓ Pilotage uses visible landmarks; dead reckoning uses computed heading, speed, and timecorrect

    Pilotage is by reference to landmarks; dead reckoning is by computation.

  • Pilotage requires an autopilot; dead reckoning does not

    Neither method depends on an autopilot.

  • Dead reckoning uses landmarks; pilotage uses a flight computer

    This reverses the two definitions.

  • Both require an instrument rating

    Both are VFR navigation methods requiring no instrument rating.

Why

Pilotage navigates by direct reference to visible landmarks, while dead reckoning computes position from a known heading, groundspeed, and elapsed time. VFR pilots combine both.

FAA source: PHAK Ch. 16 / navigation methodsbrowse the reference library →

This is taught in Building the Route: Checkpoints and Navigation Methods — study the lessons free, then practice with grading and mastery tracking.

Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.

Which statement best distinguishes pilotage from dead reckoning? · PPL Free Ground School