About the DGCA Navigation paper
General Navigation is part of the DGCA Air Navigation examination for the Commercial and Airline Transport Pilot Licences. It is multiple choice, includes a good deal of calculation, and carries a 70 percent pass mark with no negative marking. A subject pass is valid for five years, with a 30-day wait between attempts.
The syllabus covers the Earth and its coordinate system, direction and distance, the triangle of velocities, dead reckoning, the 1 in 60 rule, critical point and point of no return, chart projections and their properties, Mercator and Lambert chart work, time, time zones and twilight, the direct-indicating compass and its errors, gyroscopic principles and instrument errors, and relative velocity problems.
What is in this question bank
This bank works through General Navigation chapter by chapter on the Oxford structure. The numerical chapters carry fully worked solutions, not just the final answer, so you can follow the method for wind-triangle, 1 in 60, critical point, point of no return and time problems. Two chapters are free to try; the rest unlock with a free account.
How to prepare
Navigation rewards doing problems, not reading. Work each chapter here until the method is automatic, keep a one-page formula sheet, and sit timed mock tests because the paper is long. Radio-based navigation is covered separately under Radio Navigation. The other subjects are Meteorology, Air Regulation and Technical General.
DGCA Navigation - frequently asked questions
Is DGCA Navigation the hardest subject?
Many candidates rate it the toughest because it is calculation-heavy and time-pressured. The fix is volume of solved problems, especially on the triangle of velocities, the 1 in 60 rule, and critical point and point of no return.
How do I calculate the Critical Point and the Point of No Return?
The Critical Point distance is D times H divided by (O plus H), where O and H are the groundspeeds out and home. The PNR time is E times H divided by (O plus H), where E is safe endurance. This bank has worked examples for both, including the single-engine variant.
What formulas are needed for DGCA Navigation?
Unit and speed conversions, the 1 in 60 rule, the wind triangle, departure and change of longitude, critical point and point of no return, scale, and convergency and conversion angle. A one-page sheet covers almost all of it.
What is the 1 in 60 rule?
A 1 degree track error gives about 1 nautical mile of offset for every 60 nautical miles flown. It is used for track correction, closing angles, VOR radial intercepts and glidepath checks.
Which book is best for DGCA Navigation?
The Oxford or Nordian General Navigation volume is the usual choice, paired with a dedicated set of numerical problems, which is what this bank provides.
