The primary instrument of navigation is the magnetic compass. The needle or card aligns itself to magnetic north, which does not coincide with true north, so the pilot must also allow for this, called the magnetic variation (or declination). The variation that applies locally is also shown on the flight map.
How does an aircraft navigate?
Commercial airliners navigate with pinpoint accuracy using a number of references such GPS, Radio Aids and an onboard Inertial Reference Systems.
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These navigation systems consist of:
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These navigation systems consist of:
- Global Positioning System (GPS)
- Inertial Reference Systems (IRS)
- Radio Aids (VORs, DMEs, ADFs, ILSs)
How do pilots know where they are going?
Today, pilots navigate using GPS-based systems in their aircraft. They fly between imaginary vertical points known as waypoints that are stored in the aircraft GPS database. ... With modern navigation avionics utilizing GPS and moving digital maps, piloting an aircraft has never been easier.
