FAA Private Pilot Airplane (PAR)Navigation and Flight PlanningMedium
A pilot is planning a VFR flight from an airport with a control tower to an uncontrolled airfield. The pilot determines the magnetic course for the first leg is 045 degrees. The magnetic variation in the area is 8 degrees West. If the aircraft has a compass deviation of +3 degrees for this heading, what is the compass heading the pilot should fly?
- A050 degrees
- B040 degrees
- C056 degrees
- D034 degrees
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. 040 degrees
To find the compass heading, start with the magnetic course, apply magnetic variation to get true course, and then apply compass deviation to get compass heading. However, the question provides magnetic course and asks for compass heading, so only deviation is applied directly. For West variation, add it to true course to get magnetic course. For East variation, subtract it. Deviation is applied as given.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Incorrectly applied deviation or variation.
- C. Incorrectly applied deviation or variation.
- D. Incorrectly applied deviation or variation.
True to Compass Heading
The process of converting a true course (relative to true north) into a compass heading (what the aircraft's magnetic compass should read) by accounting for magnetic variation and compass deviation.
- True Course (TC) is relative to True North.
- Magnetic Course (MC) is relative to Magnetic North.
- Compass Heading (CH) is what the compass shows, accounting for local magnetic fields.
Memory trick: True Virgins Make Dull Company (add or subtract)