The One to Sixty Rule

The One to Sixty Rule has many practical applications in air navigation. The proper use of
this rule enables the pilot to accurately calculate various navigational problems such as:
Wind corrections
Time and Distance calculations
Slope calculations
The theory of the One to Sixty Rule is based on the fact that a ONE degree arc on the
Equator equals approximately 60 Nautical Miles (See Earth's Coordinate System) or in
other words a ONE minute arc equals approximat ely 1 Nautical Mile. Solving navigational
problems with the One to Sixty Rule is fairly simple. When a deviation, in distance, is
known and the distance from an original point is also known, the following proportion
holds:

DRIFT CORRECTION
In the following example, an airplane drifted 8 NM after flying 65 NM. Three steps are required to find the
wind correction angle needed to arrive at the destination.
Step 1 - The drift in degrees
Solve triangle CA D
8/65=ANGLE/60 or ANGLE=480/65=7.3
Degrees
Step 2 - Correction in degrees to destination
Remaining distance AB - AC = 100-65=35
Solve triangle CB D
8/35=ANGLE/60 or
ANGLE=480/35=13. 7Degrees
Step 3
Add angle CA D to angle CB D to find heading
to fly
7.3+13.7= 21 degrees
DISTANCE AND TIME
The formulas for determining time and distance to a station are also derived from the One to Sixty Rule.
The distance to a station can be calculated by flying an aircraft perpendicular to a given bearing (or radial)
and by noting the elapsed time bet ween bearings. For reasons of convenience, increments of 10 degrees
changes in bearings are desired. The One to Sixty proportion is the basis for obtaining the desired formula.
The relations hip in (a) is similar to the one shown earlier.

The distance between bearings is a function of the aircraft's speed and the lapsed time. Using basic
Algebra leads to the following conclusion (b):

or

Combining (a) and (b) results in the following formula:

Similarly, the time to the station can be calculated using the One to Sixty Rule. The following proportion is
derived from the One to Sixty Rule:

or

To determine the time/distance to a station these steps are to be followed. After tuning and identifying the
VOR station:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Determine the radial on which you are located.

Turn inbound and re-center the needle if necessary.
Turn 80 right, or left, of the inbound course, rotating the OBS to the nearest 10 increment
opposite the direction of turn.
Maintain heading. When the CDI centers, note the time.
Maintaining the same heading, rotat e the OBS 10 in the same direction as in step 3, above.
Note the elapsed time when the CDI again centers.
Use the formulas shown earlier to determine the Time/distance from the station.

A similar procedure can be used to calculate Time/distance from a NDB station.

SLOPES
Another practical application of the One to Sixty Rule is estimating the height of a cloud by using the
RADA R echoes return. The RADA R antenna is tilted up and down to points where there is no return.
The distance of the cell is given by the RANGE A RCS and the Tilt Angle is derived from the difference
between the lowest and the highest echoes.

From the One to Sixty Rule-

It follows that the height of the cloud in Nautical Miles-

The height of the cloud in Feet -

OR

The following approximation is widely used as a rule of thumb -