MASTER 1 IN 60 RULE

Navigating the DGCA Air Navigation Exam can feel overwhelming, but certain topics are reliable point-boosters. The 1 in 60 rule is a topic asked every time in the examination, making it one of the most easily scoring topics you can study.

Let's break down one of the most fundamental concepts of this rule to help you get started.

Understanding Drift and Track Error

Before every flight, pilots decide the exact path they want to fly, which is called the Required Track (RT).

However, keeping the aircraft exactly on this straight line is rarely that simple.

• Even if the aircraft's nose is pointing correctly, wind pushes the aircraft sideways, causing what is known as drift.

  

• Because of the wind, the actual path the aircraft follows over the ground is called the Track Made Good (TMG).

• The angle between your planned Required Track and your actual Track Made Good is called the Track Error (TE).

  

The Core Concept: The 1 in 60 Rule

When you drift, the sideways distance away from your planned route is simply called your Distance Off Track. To convert this sideways distance into an angle, aviation uses the 1 in 60 Rule.

The famous rule dictates that every 1 NM off track after flying 60 NM corresponds to 1° of Track Error. Everything else is simply scaling this relationship.

Once you understand this idea, the formula becomes obvious:

Track

• Distance Off Track: How far away from the planned line you are.

• Distance Flown: How far you have travelled from the departure point.

  

Putting It Into Practice: Worked Examples

To see how this formula works in action, let's look at two practical scenarios:

Example 1: Calculating Track Error Angle 

You are flying from A to B. You find that your position is 120 NM outbound from A and 6 NM left of the required track. What is your track error angle?

• Distance Off Track: 6 NM

• Distance Flown: 120 NM

• Calculation: (6 / 120) × 60 = 3°

• Result: Your Track Error Angle is 3°.

Example 2: Finding Track Made Good (TMG) 

You are flying from N to P. Required Track is 315°. After flying 40 NM you discover you are 6 NM left of track. Find the Track Made Good.

• Distance Off Track: 6 NM

• Distance Flown: 40 NM

• Step 1 (Find Track Error): (6 / 40) × 60 = 9°

• Step 2 (Apply to Required Track): Because the aircraft has drifted left, its actual track must be smaller than the Required Track. Therefore, you subtract the error: 315° - 9° = 306°.

  

• Result: The Track Made Good is 306°.

Ready to Master the Rest?

Understanding Track Error is just the first step. To fully ace this section of your exam, you also need to know how to calculate your Track Made Good, understand the crucial difference between Distance Flown and Distance Remaining, and calculate your Closing Angle.

We have put together a comprehensive guide that covers all these concepts, complete with more worked examples and a practice test to guarantee your success.

Submit the form below to instantly download the complete Master 1 in 60 Rule.pdf and take your DGCA exam preparation to the next level!

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