Navigation Theory

Question 1

True North

Answer 1

Position of the geographic North Pole

Position never changes

Question 2

Magnetic North

Answer 2

Magnetic compass point

Used for navigation purposes/ when providing air traffic services

Question 3

Compass North

Answer 3

Direction indicated on compass installed in aircraft

Few degrees off from magnetic north

Question 4

Variation

Answer 4

Angular distance between direction of true north and magnetic north

Question 5

Deviation

Answer 5

Angular difference between magnetic North and compass north for the specific aircraft

Question 6

Bearing

Answer 6

Horizontal direction to/ from any point

Measure clockwise from true north/ magnetic point/ other reference point

Question 7

Heading

Answer 7

Direction the nose of an aircraft is pointing

Question 8

Drift

Answer 8

Difference in aircraft heading affected by wind

Measured in degrees between aircraft heading and tracking of aircraft

Question 9

Knots

Answer 9

Nautical miles per hour

Measures speed in aviation

Question 10

Indicated air speed (IAS)

Answer 10

Speed (knots) displayed on aircraft air speed indicator

Question 11

True air speed (TAS)

Answer 11

Actual speed through the air corrected for various errors

Question 12

Ground speed (GS)

Answer 12

Speed relative to the ground

Question 13

Mach number (M)

Answer 13

Aircraft speed expressed as a % of the speed of sound at a particular altitude and temperature