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Why must the heading indicator be reset periodically to the magnetic compass?
Choices
✓ Because it drifts over time due to precessioncorrect
Gyroscopic precession causes the heading indicator to drift, requiring realignment.
Because it loses power in level flight
It does not simply lose power in level flight; drift is the reason.
Because the magnetic compass is always wrong
The compass is accurate in steady flight and is used to reset the heading indicator.
Because it measures air pressure
The heading indicator is gyroscopic, not pressure-based.
Why
The heading indicator drifts because of gyroscopic precession, so it must be periodically reset to the magnetic compass during straight, unaccelerated flight.
FAA source: PHAK Ch. 8browse the reference library →
Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.