In the crow's foot method, which of the following is performed first?

• A. Draw two perpendicular lines
• B. Place the direction of travel on the top line
• C. Draw a line 45 degrees below the horizontal on each side
• D. Identify the first aircraft position

Answer: (A)

Establishing a reference frame by drawing two perpendicular lines is the first step in the crow's foot method. That cross creates the axes you’ll use to orient everything that follows, giving you a stable frame to map direction of travel and the 45-degree wings. Once the axes are in place, you place the direction of travel on the top line so forward motion aligns with the aircraft’s path. After that, you draw the lines at 45 degrees below the horizontal on each side to form the crow’s foot wings, which delineate left and right approach angles. With the layout set, you can identify the first aircraft position relative to these lines. If you skip the initial perpendicular lines, there’s no consistent reference to base the rest of the steps on.