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Headings differ between aircraft and ATC


Robert Tally 992480
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Robert Tally 992480
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My heading seems out of sync between my aircraft and ATC. Last few flights my heading has been off at least 20 degs from those given by ATC. We have worked it out but it is very frustrating to all envolved.

 

Any clues on a fix folks?

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Paul Heaney 879309
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You set your heading on the aircraft to TRUE instead of MAGNETIC?

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Owen Catherwood 903683
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and are you using any weather? Any crosswind will change the heading shown on the ASRC/VRC DSR heading vs. what you see in the cockpit.

KZSE C3/Facilities Administrator

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Robert Tally 992480
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Only using default vatsim weather. I can't seem to find where find the TRUE and MAGNETIC settings in FS9. This would explain alot if that is the issue. I am using the Project Opensky B757

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tom van der elst
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check to see if you recently installed scenery,

iirc fs2002 afcadfiles can cause this problem,

or something along those lines.

 

Cheers

 

Tom.

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William Perry 918312
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True heading is only computed when you take into account any deviation factors either East or West (east is least - and west is best +) that can be found on your enroute or TAC charts. If for example you are flying in a Cessna 172, you would set your DG to match your Magnetic Comp[Mod - Happy Thoughts] prior to departure, and also periodically along your route. A gyro, such as the one in your DG can drift periodically and needs to be reset against the magnetic comp[Mod - Happy Thoughts]. Once you've calculated your route using the lines of longitue and lattitude as a reference, you will look attain your magnetic heading (comp[Mod - Happy Thoughts]), but taking your true heading +- magnetic deviation to attain your Comp[Mod - Happy Thoughts] Heading (which is what you would then use to fly +- any wind corrections). The difference being that True North is aligned with the lines of longitude and lattitude, while magnetic north (or the heading displayed on your comp[Mod - Happy Thoughts]) is aligned to Magnetic north which contrary to what would seem correct, is not actually located directly at the top of the earth. Further stating, you will also have to account for any comp[Mod - Happy Thoughts] error (the little deviation card usually found attached to your magnetic comp[Mod - Happy Thoughts]) to ensure that you are flying the correct heading along with your calculated winds.

 

ATC will see your heading relative to how you are moving across the ground, and not what your actual comp[Mod - Happy Thoughts] or DG will say..

 

I know lately there have been a lot of winds that have been fairly strong, and this may account for some of the error. As mentioned, take a look at recent installations of scenery and aircraft to verify they are not the culprit. Also make note if the error only occurs with one specific aircraft.

 

As far as setting True vs Magnetic heading, there are not too many places in the midwest that would cause a deviation as large as 20 degrees, but as you get further out from the center of the United States, you will find deviations as high as 20 degrees near Seattle and Maine..

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