Navigation by using visual landmarks to guide an aircraft is referred to as?

Navigation by using visual landmarks to guide an aircraft is referred to as pilotage. This method relies on the pilot's ability to recognize physical features on the ground, such as rivers, roads, mountains, and man-made structures, to maintain orientation and navigate to a destination. Pilotage is particularly useful for visual flight rules (VFR) operations, where pilots are flying primarily by reference to the outside environment.

In contrast, dead reckoning involves calculating one's current position by using a previously determined position and accounting for speed, time, and direction traveled, without reliance on external visual references. Instrument navigation, on the other hand, refers to using instruments and other electronic resources to navigate, especially in conditions where visual cues are not available. Magnetic navigation typically involves the use of magnetic compasses and magnetic bearings, which is distinct from the visual aspect of pilotage.