FAA Ground School Practice Test

When flying in relation to magnetic variation, what does an east variation indicate?

1. Turn to a heading that is higher in degrees

2. Turn to a heading that is lower in degrees

3. No change in heading is needed

4. True heading equals magnetic heading

The correct answer is: Turn to a heading that is higher in degrees

When flying in relation to magnetic variation, an east variation indicates that the magnetic north is located to the east of true north. This means that the magnetic heading (the direction your compass points) will show a lower degree than the true heading (the direction based on the geographic North Pole). To fly accurately and adjust for the east variation, the pilot must turn to a heading that is higher in degrees. For example, if the true heading you want to fly is 000 degrees (true north), and you have an east variation of 10 degrees, your magnetic heading would be 350 degrees. To adjust your course to the correct true heading, you would need to increase your heading (i.e., turn to a heading that is higher) to account for that variation, leading to more accurate navigation. Understanding magnetic variation is crucial for maintaining proper orientation while flying, as it helps pilots ensure they are following the correct flight path despite the differences between compass readings and true directions.