Introduction: Based on a helicopter flight school theme, this four-page activity addresses mathematical concepts of degrees and angles. Pilots are asked to figure out appropriate headings and distances to reach increasingly challenging destinations.

Where's the Math: The helicopter flight school places students in a "training" role in which they build on their intuitive understanding of direction, distance and angle to encorporate estimation of distances and degrees. In part one, students drag the compass arrow to choose a heading for their chopper, receiving immediate feedback in the change in direction of their helicopter on screen. The compass also indicates the heading they have chosen in degrees. Part two of the problem, the "flight test" allows dragging the compass arrow and to note the corresponding degree heading; however, the helicopter remains at its current heading until students type in the heading and choose to "fly." On their first mission in Part three, students must avoid an obstacle but travel the shortest distance, requiring a two-step solution that may lead to an inquiry into triangular relationships and connections between triangles and circles. Part four requires students to calculate the changes in degree of orientation through positive and negative turns, exploring complementary angles.

Standards: Measurement, geometry

Role of Components: The Search & Rescue problem series uses Geometer's Sketchpad to control the heading via the compass and to animate helicopter movement and based on values from the compass or inputted into number entry fields. Action is triggered by a button panel. Instructions are displayed via the HTML viewer, and solutions are entered in a text entry box. Javascript handles communication among components. String view provides feedback from the flight instructor.