Aviation Software Specialists

Instrument flying is expensive. Well, all flying is expensive, but instrument flying for real is wasteful, because the student is not learning how to fly an aeroplane, so they don't really need to be in one. They are by this point in their training capable of flying the aircraft, so most students don't derive any particular benefit from learning how to operate its navigation systems while actually airborne. And you can't 'reset' an aircraft back to a start point if you want to repeat an exercise; you actually have to go there. So, a lot of instrument training and practice is done using simulators.

That's great, but you still have to fly the aircraft in a simulator. It's OK if it's a 'proper' sim which is just like the aircraft you're learning on, but a lot of instrument practice is done using PC-based desktop simulators. These can be very, very good and FTN has been mightily impressed by the likes of ELITE and ASA's 'On Top' but there is still a certain amount of time and effort required in learning how to get the software to work properly as the sort of aircraft you require. So, before you can learn how to navigate on instruments, you have to learn how the simulator works. In the early stages of radio navigation training, the student is mainly trying to interpret the instrument readings and fit what they depict into a bigger situational picture.

The beauty of the Radio Aids Navigation Tutor, known as RANT XL, is that it is a training aid which works like a simulator, but without the need to learn how to operate a simulator. You don't need a joystick, or other controls, and you don't need to fly the aircraft. You initiate turns, climbs, descents and so-on, using the left/right and up/down arrows on your computer keyboard. More than half the battle in learning how to navigate on instruments is learning how to interpret what those instruments are telling you, translating that into a mental picture of the situation and working out what to do next to achieve the required outcome. If you can forget about the task of flying the aircraft at this point you can quickly get on with the job of practising your navigation and instrument interpretation skills, without irrelevant distractions.

The other benefit, of course, is that you don't need all the paraphernalia of a simulator; no joystick, throttle quadrant or switch boxes here. You could easily run RANT on a laptop on the train, if you wished. RANT has been around for a good few years now. The current version of RANT XL is an updated, Windows 7 compatible version (Mac users need not apply), with more realistic instruments and it uses actual approach and departure charts from Navtech AERAD. It's grown into quite a complex and sophisticated product, so some rummaging around in the help files is in order before you start, but most of it is pretty logical and it's easy enough to get started after an hour or so's familiarisation. There are three main functions of the programme:

• Tutorials
• Practice
• Exercises

Tutorials explain the functions and processes behind each piece of navigation equipment. These are run through and the text is accompanied by appropriate animations of the panel displays and map representations where necessary. This tutorial part is split into subsections including Instruments (from basic DI and compass, to HSI, RMI, RBI, EFIS and modern PFD's like the Garmin 600) and Navaids (VOR, DME, ILS, ADF, TACAN, etc, and including things like RNAV and SSR). Don't worry, there is also a comprehensive glossary of terms. Other tutorial subsections provide useful help on the sort of mental arithmetic and aide-memoires which will come in handy; describe the layout and use of AERAD charts and plates, and explain many essential radio navigation skills and techniques, such as intercepts, and hold entry and maintenance. All in all, the tutorial coverage is pretty comprehensive and authoritative.

Practice is the free-form simulator. A cut down instrument display can be configured, depending on the task to be practised; an area map is displayed (with or without a visible aircraft symbol and track trail) and the various skills can be practised at will. These sessions can be paused, re-started, saved and replayed, and saved sessions can be re-used or resumed as the starting point for a new session, as required. Then there is the Exercises section, which is designed to take the student beyond the practice, and set them some specific tasks, giving a critique of the way the task was executed, for example, showing the maximum deviation from the required route.

All things considered, RANT XL is a thorough and comprehensive training tool, with a great deal of customisation available in the various setup options. This flexibility and thoroughness makes it an excellent tool for getting to grips with the essential skills of interpreting the instruments and visualising the situation, without needing to divert brain power to flying and operating the aircraft. This should help more speedy learning, so that subsequent work on a proper simulator or (heaven forbid) actually in the air, can make best use of the available time and funds.

The software also comes bundled with a neat flight-planning application, and a met viewer. The flight planning application comes with area charts for Europe and it's a doddle to set up departure and destination points, and waypoints, by mouse-clicking on the map. Put in the wind, fuel burn, altitude and the usual aircraft parameters and the software produces a 'plog' for you, and will convert this into a flight plan, if asked. Simplicity itself, and just as good at these basic functions as many of the alternative products out there. It will also download NOTAMS associated with your route, if required. The met viewer requires a user account with the UK Met Office, which is fairly straightforward to acquire if you haven't already got one, and allows you to download and view forecasts and reports in real-time. Together, these two applications provide a useful desktop flight-planning resource and give considerable added value to the purchase price of the software.

We think it's an excellent, possibly invaluable, training tool. As a way to learn the basic radio navigation skills of interpretation and situational awareness, and to practise the standard techniques so that they become familiar, RANT offers a particularly helpful and fuss-free means to get to grips with these essential skills. It won't develop the flying skills, or the hand/eye co-ordination, nor will it help develop an efficient instrument scan. All those things are the preserve of the 'proper' simulator or the aircraft itself, but as a way to get up to speed with the basics, without worrying about flying the aircraft, FTN isn't aware of anything to compare with RANT XL and we recommend it highly. The flight planning software and met viewers are also excellent, and a real bonus at the price.

RANT XL is available as an online download, or as a physical disk copy. It can be downloaded from the developers' website, or purchased through many pilot shops and flying training schools.