FAA Ground School Practice Test

For the flight from Dallas Executive to Fort Worth Meacham, what magnetic heading should be calculated considering the wind and variation?

1. 286 degrees

2. 300 degrees

3. 270 degrees

4. 250 degrees

The correct answer is: 286 degrees

To determine the correct magnetic heading for a flight from Dallas Executive to Fort Worth Meacham, several factors need to be taken into account, including the true course between the departure and destination airports, the wind direction and speed, as well as the magnetic variation for the area. The process typically involves first calculating the true course based on the airports' geographic locations. Once you have the true course, you adjust for magnetic variation, which is the angle difference between true north and magnetic north. Most likely, this would involve applying the local magnetic variation to derive the magnetic course. Furthermore, account for wind correction angle, which adjusts the magnetic heading based on the wind’s impact on the aircraft’s path. For instance, a headwind might require a more aggressive heading adjustment than a tailwind, ensuring the flight track remains straight toward the intended destination. In this case, after considering all these factors, a magnetic heading of 286 degrees emerges as the optimal heading. This figure indicates that when corrections for wind and variation are incorporated, this compass direction will align the aircraft properly for a direct flight from Dallas Executive to Fort Worth Meacham, keeping the flight on course despite the effects of wind drift.