Make Friends With the E6B

Whether the mechanical version, the electronic version, or the app, it can give you important help when you need it.

Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at 08:24 AM ET

Verified

The ability to use a mechanical E6B flight computer is the 'cursive writing' of the aviation world—but it should be part of every pilot’s repertoire. [Credit: Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

The mechanical E6B, though considered an "old technology" and increasingly replaced by electronic versions and apps, remains a valuable tool for pilots, offering a foundational understanding of flight calculations.
While electronic E6Bs and apps provide convenience and precision, over-reliance on them can lead to a deficiency in basic flight planning, navigation, and cross-country skills.
The author advocates for learning and using the mechanical E6B and traditional paper navlogs as essential backups and for developing a deep understanding of core aviation concepts, which are critical for safety, check rides, and when technology fails.

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The ability to use a mechanical E6B flight computer—a form of a circular slide rule that helps calculate things like fuel burn, wind correction, and time en route—is the “cursive writing” of the aviation world. Once taught in every flight school and used in every cockpit, it is increasingly rare as other technologies—apps and the electronic flight computer—have replaced it. Some people might argue that the mechanical E6B “flight confuser” is old technology and should be retired. However, it still works for solving performance questions, and there are still pilots who prefer it.

I own both mechanical and electronic E6B flight computers. And, I teach both because as long as they are both used in the aviation world, it is my responsibility to show them to learners.