Why is it important to check your position using pilotage and dead reckoning?

Understanding both pilotage and dead reckoning is crucial for maintaining situational awareness during flight. These techniques allow a pilot to determine their position without solely relying on electronic navigation systems like GPS.

Using pilotage, pilots navigate by referencing visual landmarks and maps, while dead reckoning calculates a path based on speed, time, wind, and heading. This is vital as GPS systems, though highly accurate, can malfunction or fail due to various reasons, including hardware issues, software glitches, or loss of satellite signal. By being proficient in these traditional navigation methods, pilots can ensure they can confidently navigate even if their GPS fails, avoiding disorientation and potential dangerous situations.

The emphasis on traditional navigation skills reinforces the principle of having multiple navigation strategies to back up electronic systems, ensuring safety and reliability in all flying conditions.