Question

After departing runway 36, you make a left turn to a heading of 180. If the magnetic compass initially indicates a turn in the opposite direction, you should know that this reaction is ________.

Answer 1

The magnetic compass displaying a turn in the opposite direction after a left turn from runway 36 to a heading of 180 is due to the northerly turning error, known as UNOS error, which occurs because of the dip and the Earth's magnetic field interaction with the compass during turns.

Step-by-step explanation:

After departing runway 36 and making a left turn to a heading of 180, if the magnetic compass initially indicates a turn in the opposite direction, this reaction is an example of the magnetic compass's northerly turning error, also known as the UNOS (Undershoot North, Overshoot South) error.

Due to the dip and the earth's magnetic field interaction with the compass, pilots often experience this when they turn across the north or south headings. The error occurs because the compass is balanced for level flight, and turning causes the compass card to tilt, which can align the north-seeking ends of the compass needles with the Earth's magnetic field in a way that causes the compass to temporarily indicate the opposite direction of the turn.