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DGCA Air Navigation · 45 questions

Compass & Direction: DGCA Air Navigation Questions and Answers

45 practice questions on Compass & Direction with answers and explanations, plus the key concepts and formulas, from the TrueHeading question bank.

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About this topic

Use this page to revise Compass & Direction for the DGCA Air Navigation paper. Below are the key ideas first, then 12 practice questions with answers and explanations, picked from the 45 questions in the TrueHeading bank for this topic.

In short: True → (variation) → Magnetic → (deviation) → Compass.

Open the full set in the student zone to answer every question, track your accuracy and take timed mock tests.

Key concepts: Compass & Direction

5 ideas to know cold.

From true to compass: what is the order?

True → (variation) → Magnetic → (deviation) → Compass.

  • Variation east, magnetic least. Variation west, magnetic best
  • Variation depends on location, deviation on the aircraft and its heading
TMCheadingvardevT = true N · M = magnetic N · C = compass Nvar east, magnetic least · var west, magnetic best

Tip: “True Virgins Make Dull Company”, adding West, subtracting East when going from true to magnetic.

Isogonals, agonic lines and isoclinals?

Isogonal: joins places of equal variation. Agonic line: zero variation. Isoclinal: equal dip. Aclinic line: zero dip (magnetic equator).

How do you convert a relative bearing to a true bearing?

Add the relative bearing to the true heading.

True bearing=True heading+relative bearing\text{True bearing}=\text{True heading}+\text{relative bearing}
  • Subtract 360° if the answer is above 360°
  • Reciprocal = ±180°

What is grivation?

The angle between grid north and magnetic north.

  • Used with grid navigation near the poles, where meridians converge rapidly
  • Grid heading = true heading − grid convergence (sign depends on the side of the grid meridian)

State the rules for variation and deviation.

Remember TVMDC: True → Variation → Magnetic → Deviation → Compass.

  • From true to compass: West is added, East is subtracted
  • From compass to true: East is added, West is subtracted
  • Variation west, magnetic best; variation east, magnetic least

Tip: Cadbury Very Dark Chocolate: Compass, Deviation, Magnetic, Variation, True. CAD VEST…East is added going back.

Practice questions: Compass & Direction

Tap “Show answer” after you have tried each one.

Q1True heading 190°, variation 8°E. The magnetic heading is:

  1. 182°
  2. 176°
  3. 190°
  4. 185°
Show answer

Answer: A. 182°

Variation E: magnetic = true − 8° = 182°. (East is least, West is best.)

Q2True heading 050°, variation 8°E, deviation +2°. The compass heading is:

  1. 037°
  2. 032°
  3. 040°
  4. 046°
Show answer

Answer: C. 040°

Magnetic heading 042°; compass = magnetic − deviation(+2°) = 040°.

Q3True heading 020°, variation 6°E. The magnetic heading is:

  1. 017°
  2. 020°
  3. 014°
  4. 004°
Show answer

Answer: C. 014°

Variation E: magnetic = true − 6° = 014°. (East is least, West is best.)

Q4True heading 050°, variation 2°E. The magnetic heading is:

  1. 056°
  2. 045°
  3. 040°
  4. 048°
Show answer

Answer: D. 048°

Variation E: magnetic = true − 2° = 048°. (East is least, West is best.)

Q5True heading 320°, variation 12°E, deviation +4°. The compass heading is:

  1. 301°
  2. 310°
  3. 314°
  4. 304°
Show answer

Answer: D. 304°

Magnetic heading 308°; compass = magnetic − deviation(+4°) = 304°.

Q6True heading 060°, variation 5°E. The magnetic heading is:

  1. 058°
  2. 045°
  3. 061°
  4. 055°
Show answer

Answer: D. 055°

Variation E: magnetic = true − 5° = 055°. (East is least, West is best.)

Q7True heading 120°, variation 3°E, deviation +4°. The compass heading is:

  1. 113°
  2. 103°
  3. 117°
  4. 116°
Show answer

Answer: A. 113°

Magnetic heading 117°; compass = magnetic − deviation(+4°) = 113°.

Q8True heading 220°, variation 12°W. The magnetic heading is:

  1. 229°
  2. 238°
  3. 232°
  4. 240°
Show answer

Answer: C. 232°

Variation W: magnetic = true + 12° = 232°. (East is least, West is best.)

Q9True heading 250°, variation 3°E. The magnetic heading is:

  1. 244°
  2. 255°
  3. 243°
  4. 247°
Show answer

Answer: D. 247°

Variation E: magnetic = true − 3° = 247°. (East is least, West is best.)

Q10True heading 230°, variation 5°E, deviation -3°. The compass heading is:

  1. 228°
  2. 225°
  3. 220°
  4. 231°
Show answer

Answer: A. 228°

Magnetic heading 225°; compass = magnetic − deviation(-3°) = 228°.

Q11True heading 030°, variation 2°E, deviation +2°. The compass heading is:

  1. 030°
  2. 036°
  3. 026°
  4. 023°
Show answer

Answer: C. 026°

Magnetic heading 028°; compass = magnetic − deviation(+2°) = 026°.

Q12True heading 330°, variation 4°E. The magnetic heading is:

  1. 318°
  2. 332°
  3. 323°
  4. 326°
Show answer

Answer: D. 326°

Variation E: magnetic = true − 4° = 326°. (East is least, West is best.)

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