HAGAR facts: navigation, altimeter, radio, time and wildlife

The chart (VNC): the answers to know

If the question asks…	Answer
What chart is used for VFR navigation?	The VFR Navigation Chart (VNC)
What is its scale?	1:500,000 (1 cm = 5 km). The VTA (VFR Terminal Area chart) is 1:250,000.
What projection is it?	Lambert conformal conic
Properties of the Lambert conformal conic projection (choose the three)	Meridians converge and cross the parallels (which are arcs) at right angles; a straight line is (nearly) a great circle; scale is nearly constant across the sheet
Properties of a Mercator projection (the other three)	Meridians and parallels are straight parallel lines at right angles; a straight line is a rhumb line; scale changes with latitude
How many VNCs cover Canada?	52
Which airspace is not shown on a VNC?	Class G (everything not drawn is Class G)
Where is everything on the chart explained?	In the legend
What is a great circle?	The shortest distance between two points on the Earth
What is a rhumb line?	A line that crosses every meridian at the same angle (constant heading)

Latitude, longitude, distance: the answers to know

Question	Answer
How is latitude measured?	North or south of the equator, 0° to 90°
How is longitude measured?	East or west of the prime meridian (Greenwich), 0° to 180°
How are coordinates written on a VNC?	Degrees, minutes and tenths of minutes, e.g. N43°10.4′ W79°56.1′. 60 minutes = 1 degree.
One minute of latitude equals	1 nautical mile (so 1° of latitude = 60 NM)
1 NM =	1.85 km = 1.15 statute miles
1 statute mile =	1.6 km
1 cm on a 1:500,000 chart =	5 km ≈ 2.7 NM ≈ 3.1 SM
How do you measure distance on a VNC?	Ruler, then the scale bar at the bottom of the chart (NM, SM and km)

Direction: variation, deviation, compass: the answers to know

Question	Answer
Magnetic variation is	The angle between true north and magnetic north at a point
Magnetic deviation is	The compass error caused by metal and electronics in the aircraft
Lines of equal variation are called	Isogonic lines (dashed magenta lines on the VNC, labelled e.g. 10°W)
The line of zero variation is called	The agonic line
To convert true heading to magnetic heading	Add west variation, subtract east variation ("East is least, west is best")
To convert magnetic heading to true heading	Subtract west variation, add east variation
Example: magnetic heading 135°, variation 13°W → true heading	135 − 13 = 122°
Example: true track 090°, variation 16°E → magnetic track	090 − 16 = 074°
Where to read the variation for a point	The nearest isogonic line on the chart you are given
Turning from a northerly heading, the compass	Lags, briefly showing a turn in the opposite direction
Turning from a southerly heading, the compass	Leads, showing a turn that is faster than the real one
Accelerating on an east or west heading, the compass shows	A turn toward north (ANDS: Accelerate North, Decelerate South)
Decelerating on an east or west heading, the compass shows	A turn toward south
Accelerating on a north or south heading	No compass error
When is a magnetic compass accurate?	Only in steady, level, unaccelerated flight
Why does variation change over the years?	The magnetic pole moves
In the Southern Domestic Airspace tracks and headings are	Magnetic; in the Northern Domestic Airspace, true (compass unreliable near the pole)

The altimeter: the answers to know

Question	Answer
An altimeter is	An aneroid barometer (measures air pressure and shows it as height)
Standard sea-level pressure and temperature	29.92 inHg (1013.2 hPa) at 15 °C
Pressure falls about	1 inHg per 1,000 ft (near sea level)
Before take-off, set the altimeter to	The altimeter setting of the aerodrome, or if unavailable, the elevation of the aerodrome (launch)
In flight (altimeter setting region), set the altimeter to	The setting of the nearest station along the route; if stations are more than 150 NM apart, a station near the route
Before descending to land, set the altimeter to	The destination aerodrome's setting
In the standard pressure region (above 18,000 ft) set	29.92 inHg and use flight levels (FL 180 = 18,000 ft)
Altitudes based on 29.92 are called	Pressure altitudes (ICAO altitudes)
Why can an altimeter read wrong on a long flight?	Pressure changes with weather and distance
Flight level 240 means	24,000 ft with 29.92 set

Radio: the answers to know

Question	Answer
Aviation voice frequencies in Canada	VHF 118–136 MHz
Licence needed to transmit on aviation frequencies	Restricted Operator Certificate with Aeronautical Qualification (ISED / Industry Canada), valid for life
Languages of aeronautical radio in Canada	English and French
Emergency frequency	121.5 MHz
Frequency to monitor and broadcast on in uncontrolled airspace away from aerodromes	126.7 MHz
Default aerodrome traffic frequency when none is published	123.2 MHz
Frequency allocated to gliders	123.4 MHz
Air-to-air "chat" frequency	122.75 MHz
Call sign of a hang glider or paraglider	"HANG GLIDER" (or "PARAGLIDER") + the pilot's initials in the phonetic alphabet (e.g. Paraglider Delta Romeo)
Distress call	MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY (serious, imminent danger, immediate help)
Urgency call	PAN PAN, PAN PAN, PAN PAN (safety of aircraft or person, help needed soon)
If you carry a radio you must	Keep a listening watch on the appropriate frequency
Where are MF/ATF frequencies published?	Canada Flight Supplement (CFS) and on the VNC
First call when entering an MF area	At least 5 minutes before entering: position, altitude, intentions
Radio required for a paraglider in	Class D, MF area, ADIZ

Phonetic alphabet: Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta Echo Foxtrot Golf Hotel India Juliett Kilo Lima Mike November Oscar Papa Quebec Romeo Sierra Tango Uniform Victor Whiskey X-ray Yankee Zulu. Nine is "niner"; numbers are read digit by digit.

NOTAMs and flight information: the answers to know

Question	Answer
A NOTAM is	A notice about the establishment, condition or change of any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard
NOTAMs are distributed by	Telecommunication (the aeronautical network and radio); online at NAV CANADA
Who gives weather briefings, NOTAMs and takes flight plans?	Flight Information Centres (FIC) / Flight Service Stations (FSS); they do not control traffic
Before a flight the pilot must be familiar with	The available information and weather for the flight (CAR 602.71/602.72)
Aviation weather times are in	UTC / Zulu, 24-hour clock
METAR wind is reported in	Degrees true and knots

Wake turbulence: the answers to know

Question	Answer
Wake turbulence is caused by	Wing-tip vortices, a by-product of lift
Which aircraft produce hazardous wake turbulence?	All fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft
When is it strongest?	Behind heavy, slow, clean aircraft: take-off and landing
Where does it go?	It sinks behind the aircraft and drifts with the wind
Where should a paraglider stay?	Behind and above the aircraft's path, never behind and below
How long can it last?	Older exam material: "five minutes or more"; the current TC AIM: strong for about 2 minutes, fading slowly, longest in calm air. If the options are "immediately / less than a minute / five minutes or more / 30 minutes", choose five minutes or more.

Time zones: the answers to know

Question	Answer
Aviation uses	UTC (Zulu, Z), 24-hour clock, 0000–2359
Newfoundland standard / daylight	UTC −3½ / −2½
Atlantic	UTC −4 / −3
Eastern (Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa)	UTC −5 / −4
Central	UTC −6 / −5
Mountain	UTC −7 / −6
Pacific	UTC −8 / −7
Which zone never changes to daylight time?	Saskatchewan (always UTC −6)
1800Z in Eastern Daylight Time is	1400 (2:00 pm); in Eastern Standard Time 1300
2100Z in Pacific Daylight Time is	1400 (2:00 pm)

Wildlife and farms: the answers to know

Question	Answer
Minimum altitude near reindeer, caribou, moose, musk-oxen, wildlife refuges and bird sanctuaries	2,000 ft AGL
Why not fly low near farms?	Noise and shadows frighten livestock and can cause stampedes: any of the above
Fur farms are marked by	Chrome-yellow and black stripes on roofs or pylons, and a red flag in whelping season (February–May)
Migratory birds	Do not fly low over nesting and feeding areas
Parks	Flight restrictions exist over some national, provincial and municipal parks (charts and the AIM)

Human factors and regulations on the HAGAR

The HAGAR also tests the air regulations (Module 10) and human factors (Module 09). For the HAGAR treat those modules the same way: the Key numbers boxes and the flashcards are the answers. The HAGAR deck in the flashcards and the HAGAR practice exam contain everything in this module.