Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

3 Answers

Why Isn’t All Navigation in True

Asked by: 3924 views , , ,
Aircraft Systems, Airspace, FAA Regulations, General Aviation

In the early days of aviation, the magnetic compass was the only reliable instrument by which to navigate. Today, in the age of universal GPS and abundant fixed location navaids, why do we still align to the magnetic poles? New digital compasses can be programmed to correct for declanation, wouldn't it be easier on everyone if we all pointed to the true poles?

Ace Any FAA Written Test!
Actual FAA Questions / Free Lifetime Updates
The best explanations in the business
Fast, efficient study.
Pass Your Checkride With Confidence!
FAA Practical Test prep that reflects actual checkrides.
Any checkride: Airplane, Helicopter, Glider, etc.
Written and maintained by actual pilot examiners and master CFIs.
The World's Most Trusted eLogbook
Be Organized, Current, Professional, and Safe.
Highly customizable - for student pilots through pros.
Free Transition Service for users of other eLogs.
Our sincere thanks to pilots such as yourself who support AskACFI while helping themselves by using the awesome PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android aviation apps of our sponsors.

3 Answers



  1. Bill Trussell on Nov 13, 2013

    The issue is what do you do with the legacy systems such as the VOR or VORTAC network which is still oriented to magnetic north? Note that most of the navaids and electronic routs are still oriented to Magnetic north. Never mind the Runway ends!

    While convention has dictated this orientation to this point it would appear to be very early to change the convention.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  2. Wes Beard on Nov 13, 2013

    If everyone has a GPS they can reference then I would also assume that navigating by the true course would be easier. Unfortunately, not everyone has a GPS. We would also lose some navigational backups if the GPS system ever failed or more likely turned off for some reason.

    As it stands right now, the VOR and NDB network is the backup for the GPS. There used to be a LORAN system but the US Navy decommissioned that system a couple years ago.

    The other reason is the cost to the make the transition. Every GPS receiver would have to be reprogrammed to show the true course, all the charts would have to be reprinted to show the true course and if the NAS wanted to use VORs, they would have to be recalibrated for true course. It would seem to me that it is a lot of work for minimal gain.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  3. Alexander Gertsen on Nov 14, 2013

    That all makes sense, thank you for your thoughts. I agree that this would be a major and costly change, but I’m willing to bet within 50 years, we’ll all be flying true headings! 🙂

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes


The following terms have been auto-detected the question above and any answers or discussion provided. Click on a term to see its definition from the Dauntless Aviation JargonBuster Glossary.

Answer Question

Our sincere thanks to all who contribute constructively to this forum in answering flight training questions. If you are a flight instructor or represent a flight school / FBO offering flight instruction, you are welcome to include links to your site and related contact information as it pertains to offering local flight instruction in a specific geographic area. Additionally, direct links to FAA and related official government sources of information are welcome. However we thank you for your understanding that links to other sites or text that may be construed as explicit or implicit advertising of other business, sites, or goods/services are not permitted even if such links nominally are relevant to the question asked.