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Heading Sensor-2-14

The document discusses the magnetic compass, which uses magnets attached to a float in liquid to determine the magnetic heading of an aircraft. It is affected by deviation caused by metal in the aircraft as well as variation due to differences between magnetic and true north. Pilots must calculate compass headings by applying variation and deviation corrections to convert between true, magnetic, and compass headings.

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36 views

Heading Sensor-2-14

The document discusses the magnetic compass, which uses magnets attached to a float in liquid to determine the magnetic heading of an aircraft. It is affected by deviation caused by metal in the aircraft as well as variation due to differences between magnetic and true north. Pilots must calculate compass headings by applying variation and deviation corrections to convert between true, magnetic, and compass headings.

Uploaded by

senthilkumar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Navigation

The Magnetic Compass

References:
FTGU pages 179-182
Transport Canada Study and Reference Guide Glider Pilot
Canada Flight Training Manual – Pilot Navigation
The Magnetic Compass
MTPs:
Review
• The Magnetic Compass
• Compass Errors
• Calculating Compass Headings
Review

• Rhumb line or
great circle?
• What is the difference between variation and deviation?

• What are isogonic lines?

• Agonic lines?
The Magnetic Compass
Used to determine magnetic
heading.

Usually consists of one or two


magnets attached to a float and
a compass card that can rotate
freely in a liquid.

It is affected by the metal in the


airplane, the electronics and the
engine (deviation).

Lubber line
Compass Errors

Deviation – the metal in the airplane (and the


radios and other equipment) affect the compass so
that it doesn’t correctly point north. This is called
deviation.

Compasses are “swung” which means the airplane


is aligning on a marking on the ground that is
known to be pointing north, south, etc, and the
error (the deviation) is written on a compass
correction card. The pilot takes this into account
while planning flights.
Compass Errors
Magnetic Dip – the Earth’s lines of magnetic
force are horizontal at the equator, but
become vertical towards the poles.

This causes the compass to dip at higher


latitudes.

Northerly Turning Error


When turning away from the
magnetic north pole, the compass lags,
When turning towards the
magnetic north pole, the compass leads.
Acceleration and Deceleration
Errors

When an airplane changes its speed, this


affects the compass. This is most
noticeable on east or west headings.

An acceleration will cause the compass to


show (briefly) a turn north.

A deceleration will cause the compass to


show (briefly) a turn south.

Acceleration North,
Deceleration South (ANDS)
Calculating Compass Headings
When we fly, we generally use the compass to figure out what direction
we are heading. This doesn’t match the map though, because your map
(chart) is in degrees true, while your compass uses degrees magnetic.
So how do we figure out what direction to fly in?

Remember variation and deviation? We do some calculations to


convert from degrees true to degrees magnetic (using variation) and
the to our compass heading (using deviation).
Calculating Compass Headings
When variation or deviation is to the west you add it.

When variation or deviation is to the east you subtract it.

“West is Best (+), East is Least (-)”

This only works going from True to Magnetic, if you go the other
way, it is backwards!

T V M D C
True Magnetic Compass
Variation Deviation
Heading Heading Heading
 +E/-W  +E/-W 
 -E/+W  -E/+W 
Calculating Compass Headings
Example:

To convert a True Heading of 136° to a compass heading when


the variation is 19° West and the deviation is 3° East:

136° +19=Magnetic Heading of 155°,

155 °- 3 = 152 ° Compass Heading.

T V M D C
True Magnetic Compass
Variation Deviation
Heading Heading Heading
 +E/-W  +E/-W 
 -E/+W  -E/+W 
Confirmation
True Variation Magnetic Deviation Compass
Heading Heading Heading
100° 7°W 2°E
312° 12°E 4°W
21°E 6°W 243°
65° 77° 80°
355° 14°W 10°E
12° 10°E 4°E

T V M D C
Compass
True Heading Variation Magnetic Heading Deviation
Heading

 +E/-W  +E/-W 

 -E/+W  -E/+W 
Renaissance Compass

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