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What is navigation by reference to landmarks or checkpoints called?

Pilotage.

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  1. Dead reckoning
  2. Radio navigation
  3. Pilotage ✔

Why: Pilotage means flying from landmark to landmark, like roads, rivers, and lakes. Dead reckoning instead uses time, airspeed, distance, and direction. Most VFR cross-countries combine the two.

Huh, didn't know that: Good checkpoints are prominent features, such as railroads, highways, power lines, and lakes.

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References

Answer: Pilotage. Pilotage means flying from landmark to landmark, like roads, rivers, and lakes. Dead reckoning instead uses time, airspeed, distance, and direction. Most VFR cross-countries combine the two.

  1. Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 16 Navigation (FAA-H-8083-25C) www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/18_phak_ch16.pdf
    Pilotage is navigation by reference to landmarks or checkpoints.
    Checked 2026-10-07.
  2. Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 16 Navigation (FAA-H-8083-25C) www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/18_phak_ch16.pdf
    Dead reckoning is navigation solely by means of computations based on time, airspeed, distance, and direction.
    Checked 2026-10-07.

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