Question from an old timer about your job today.
I am in my 60's and retired now. I flew P-2's in the fleet oh so many years ago. Back then all pilots had to learn long range navigation as we started out in the squadron on the nav table and worked our way up to the cockpit. After completing flight training we attended VT-29, a special nav school for pilots in Corpus Christi. We spent a lot of time learning celestial back then.
Question to present day navigators- with the advent of GPS are you still taught celestial? I saw a press release from the Naval Academy some years ago that stated that celestial was no longer a required course which is the reason for my question. Because of the accuracy and reliability of GPS it would seem possible that there is no longer a need for celestial. Do pilots still have to qualify as navigators today?
Just wondering how things are done now. Many thanks for any replies. Hats off to you guys out there in the fleet today. You have our greatest respect.
I am in my 60's and retired now. I flew P-2's in the fleet oh so many years ago. Back then all pilots had to learn long range navigation as we started out in the squadron on the nav table and worked our way up to the cockpit. After completing flight training we attended VT-29, a special nav school for pilots in Corpus Christi. We spent a lot of time learning celestial back then.
Question to present day navigators- with the advent of GPS are you still taught celestial? I saw a press release from the Naval Academy some years ago that stated that celestial was no longer a required course which is the reason for my question. Because of the accuracy and reliability of GPS it would seem possible that there is no longer a need for celestial. Do pilots still have to qualify as navigators today?
Just wondering how things are done now. Many thanks for any replies. Hats off to you guys out there in the fleet today. You have our greatest respect.