[John Boothby]

While we are on the subject, how do you read a map? I was taught, back in the 50's, to read a map with the North arrow "UP". However, since then I have run into folks that read maps by orientating them to the direction they are looking, or traveling. When I was flying (in the 60's and 70's) I read maps with N up. I had a copilot once that orientated maps to the direction we were moving. He was always rattling the map around to read stuff then back to direction. Drove me nuts! Maybe it is just me, but he eventually got fired for landing off runway during crosswind landing (not related to map reading). I understand orientating a map to see landmarks, but I also understand reading a map the same way to reduce confusion. Maybe both ways based on situation?

So, how do you read maps?