How should aircraft be reported as a lookout?

• A. Bearing and range
• B. Time and course
• C. Distance and bearing
• D. Bearing and position angle

Answer: (D)

When reporting a lookout contact, you provide two measurements that locate the aircraft in the ship’s own frame: bearing to the contact and the position angle. The bearing tells you the direction from the ship to the aircraft, while the position angle shows how far off the ship’s fore–aft line the aircraft is (left or right of the bow). Together, these two bits of information place the aircraft precisely on the plot and support quick plotting, collision-avoidance decisions, and coordination with other units.

Time and course don’t describe where the contact is, and distance with bearing doesn’t give the lateral offset as directly as the position angle. Bearing with distance alone also isn’t as immediately useful for plotting relative position relative to the ship’s heading. Using bearing and position angle provides the most complete, actionable picture of the contact’s location.