Avielevate / DGCA CPL papers / Air Navigation / Magnetism and Compasses
Magnetism and Compasses — DGCA CPL Air Navigation
Chapter 03 of the Air Navigation paper. 69 practice questions in the Avielevate bank, every one with its answer key, filterable into a timed set on this chapter alone.
What this chapter covers
The learning objectives we file Magnetism and Compasses questions under, and how many sit behind each. These come straight out of the bank and are regenerated whenever it changes — they are what is there today, not a claim.
| Learning objective | In the bank |
|---|
| 0205 Magnetism & Compasses | 55 questions |
| 0207 Gyroscopic Flight Instruments | 14 questions |
Sample Magnetism and Compasses questions, answered and explained
Real questions from this chapter, with the answer marked and the reasoning written out — the same explanations you get inside the app.
020078 · Magnetism and Compasses
What is the main advantage of a remote-indicating compass over a direct-reading compass?
- AIt has fewer moving parts
- BIt needs less maintenance
- CIt can amplify the earth's magnetic field to achieve greater accuracy
- DIt detects, rather than actively seeks, the magnetic meridian
Why that is the answer
A remote indicating compass (remote reading/slaved compass system) uses a detector unit, typically a flux valve, mounted away from magnetic disturbances (often in a wingtip or tail), which senses the direction of the earth's magnetic field directly and transmits an electrical signal to a repeater in the cockpit. This is fundamentally different from a direct reading magnetic compass, which uses a pivoted magnet that physically seeks and aligns itself with the magnetic meridian, making it prone to liquid swirl, oscillation, and turning/acceleration errors. The key advantage is that the flux valve senses the field without needing to physically swing into alignment, giving faster, steadier, and more accurate indications, especially during manoeuvres. Options (a) and (b) describe secondary/incidental benefits, not the fundamental advantage, and option (c) is incorrect because no compass system amplifies the earth's actual magnetic field strength; it only detects its direction more effectively.
027603 · Magnetism and Compasses
During flight, when are the indications of a magnetic compass accurate?
- AOnly in straight-and-level unaccelerated flight.
- BAs long as the airspeed is constant.
- CDuring turns if the bank does not exceed 18 degrees.
- DDuring climbs and descents at a constant rate.
Why that is the answer
A magnetic compass reads accurately only in steady, unaccelerated, straight-and-level flight, free of turning or acceleration errors.
- The magnetic compass is subject to several inherent errors, acceleration/deceleration error and turning (northerly turning) error, both induced by the compass card's pendulous mounting reacting to changes in speed or heading.
- These errors disappear only when the aircraft is flying straight, level, and at constant speed, exactly the condition stated in option A.
- Option B is wrong because constant airspeed alone does not eliminate turning error; a turn at constant airspeed still induces compass errors.
- Option C is wrong because turning error is present in any turn, not just above some bank angle threshold; there is no 18-degree exemption, and even shallow turns introduce error.
- Because both acceleration and turning must be absent for the compass to be reliable, only option A, straight-and-level unaccelerated flight, is correct.
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Frequently asked
How many Magnetism and Compasses questions are there for the DGCA CPL Air Navigation paper?
Avielevate's bank carries 69 published Magnetism and Compasses questions for Air Navigation, mapped across 2 learning objectives. Every one has its answer key, and explanations are being written across the whole bank.
How much of the Air Navigation paper is Magnetism and Compasses?
The DGCA does not publish a per-chapter breakdown of its papers, so nobody can honestly tell you — and we will not guess. What we can tell you is what students who have just sat a paper reported meeting, which is measured rather than rumoured: that is the exam recall report inside the app.
What is the best way to revise Magnetism and Compasses?
Sit a short timed set on this chapter alone, tag how sure you were of each answer, then drill the two that actually leak marks: the ones you got right while guessing, and the ones you got wrong while confident. Avielevate does that tagging for you and puts anything you got wrong back in front of you on a spaced schedule.
The rest of the Air Navigation paper
One account covers every chapter of every paper.
← All Air Navigation chapters · All six DGCA CPL papers