Calculate Magnetic Bearing to NDB with Given True Track and Variation
What is the process to calculate the magnetic bearing to an NDB with given true track and variation?
An aircraft that is north west of an NDB wants to know its magnetic bearing to the NDB. The great circle true track is 101.5° and the variation where the aircraft is located is 11° west. How can the pilot calculate the magnetic bearing to the NDB in this scenario?
Steps to Calculate Magnetic Bearing
To find the magnetic bearing to the NDB, the pilot should subtract the variation from the true track.
When determining the magnetic bearing to an NDB, it is important to consider both the true track and the variation. In this case, the aircraft is facing a variation of 11° west from the true track of 101.5°. To calculate the magnetic bearing, the pilot simply needs to subtract the variation from the true track.
Given that the great circle true track is 101.5° and the variation is 11° west, the pilot can perform the following calculation:
Magnetic Bearing = True Track - Variation
Magnetic Bearing = 101.5° - 11°
Magnetic Bearing = 90.5°
Therefore, the aircraft's magnetic bearing to the NDB in this situation is 90.5°. This means the pilot needs to adjust the heading to 90.5° to stay on the correct track towards the NDB, considering the magnetic variation.
It is crucial for pilots to understand how to calculate magnetic bearings accurately, as it directly impacts navigation and flight path adjustments to maintain a safe and efficient journey.