Video tip: How to use a sectional plotter to plan a cross-country flight

As you enter the cross-country planning phase of your private pilot training, you’ll learn the skills required to plan long-distance trips using a VFR sectional, plotter, E6B flight computer and Navlog. This will teach you the core planning skills necessary to fly to a new airport and allow you to fly the trip via pilotage (looking for landmarks on the ground) and dead reckoning (heading, groundspeed and time en route calculations).

This week’s tip takes a look at the first phase of this planning process and shows how to use a plotter and sectional to measure the trip distance and determine the exact direction you’ll need to fly.

This video tip is from the Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course, which includes complete training for Private and Sport Pilots.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Bret Koebbe

As Sporty’s lead aviation course and video producer, Bret is usually flying an interesting airplane, and often with a camera rolling. He oversees the development, production and distribution of over 30 aviation courses from Sporty's, including the Private Pilot Learn to Fly Course. He is a flight instructor and check airman at the Sporty's Academy flight school and a senior captain on a Cessna Citation.

Latest posts by Bret Koebbe (see all)

• How to enter the traffic pattern at a nontowered airport (video tip) - March 11, 2026
• Video tip: how to fly with the Garmin GFC 500 Autopilot - March 4, 2026
• Video tip: How to use a sectional plotter to plan a cross-country flight - February 25, 2026