Unfair or Unprepared? Proof Is in the Piloting

Being capable of diverting to an unfamiliar airport includes learning many potential scenarios.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Weather is one of the most common reasons for pilots to divert to another airport. [Pixabay]

Key Takeaways:

Student pilots must master traditional navigation skills like pilotage and dead reckoning for diversions, as it is a critical requirement for check rides and real-world safety, not an "unfair" challenge.
Over-reliance on GPS is detrimental; pilots need to go beyond the "nearest" function to identify *suitable* alternate airports by interpreting sectional charts for essential information like available services (e.g., fuel).
Thorough preparation, including comprehensive instruction on divert procedures and diligent study of sectional symbology, is crucial for safely anticipating and executing unexpected diversions.

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One of the most common complaints you hear from student pilots is that their instructor was “unfair” when the CFI told them to divert to an unfamiliar airport using (gasp) pilotage and dead reckoning—no GPS.

Even when the CFI explains this piloting skill will be part of their check ride—using analog aviation to a place they haven’t been to before—some learners can get rather salty. Settle down, Francis. Don’t bother telling the pilot examiner about all the backups you’ll have every time you fly.This is about testing specific skills.