Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

2 Answers

Compass Turning Error

Asked by: 2313 views General Aviation, Instrument Rating, Private Pilot

On East and West heading why there is no compass turning error?

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.

2 Answers



  1. raajtram on Nov 12, 2017

    Assuming you understand the full picture of Northerly and Southerly turning errors, the answer to your question would be – because the “lag” or “lead” of the magnet is the greatest when turning toward the poles. When your “destination” is a Western or Eastern heading, the error (of lag or lead) is negligible.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  2. KDS on Nov 12, 2017

    A source to read the gruesome details can be found starting on page 8-23 of the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.

    You can view the handbook online at this site:

    https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/

    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.