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  • Chapter 8: Flight Instruments › Compass Systems › Magnetic Compass Induced Errors

    Magnetic Compass Induced Errors The magnetic compass is the simplest instrument in the panel, but it is subject to a number of errors that must be considered. Variation The Earth rotates about its geographic axis; maps and charts are drawn ... geographic poles. Directions measured from the geographic poles are called true directions. The magnetic North Pole to which the magnetic compass points is not collocated with the geographic North Pole, but is some 1,300 miles away; directions measured from…

  • Glossary › Chart Supplement U.S. (formerly Airport/Facility

    computations based on airspeed, course, heading, wind direction and speed, groundspeed, and elapsed time. Deceleration error. A magnetic compass error that occurs when the aircraft decelerates while flying on an easterly or westerly heading, causing the compass card to rotate…

  • Chapter 8: Flight Instruments › Instrument Check › Attitude Indicator

    aircraft. Heading Indicator The heading indicator is fundamentally a mechanical instrument designed to facilitate the use of the magnetic compass. Errors in the magnetic compass are numerous, making straight flight and precision turns to headings difficult to accomplish, particularly…

  • Chapter 5: Flight Instruments › Dynamic Pressure Type Instruments › Magnetic Compass Errors

    Magnetic Compass Errors The magnetic compass is the simplest instrument in the panel, but it is subject to a number of errors that must be considered. Variation The Earth rotates about its geographic axis; maps and charts are drawn using ... through the geographic poles. Directions measured from the geographic poles are called true directions. The north magnetic pole to which the magnetic compass points is not collocated with the geographic north pole, but is some 1,300 miles away; directions…