What does True Heading mean?

What does True Heading mean?

• A. Direction measured relative to magnetic north
• B. Direction measured by true north
• C. The angular distance from nose to tail
• D. The orientation relative to the horizon

Answer: (B)

True heading is the direction the airplane’s nose is pointing measured relative to true north (geographic north). It tells you where you’re actually aiming on the earth, independent of any magnetic variation. In practice, pilots often convert true heading to magnetic heading by applying the local variation between true north and magnetic north. The other ideas don’t fit: direction relative to magnetic north is magnetic heading, not true heading; the angular distance from nose to tail isn’t a heading; and orientation relative to the horizon describes attitude, not heading.

True heading is the direction the airplane’s nose is pointing measured relative to true north (geographic north). It tells you where you’re actually aiming on the earth, independent of any magnetic variation. In practice, pilots often convert true heading to magnetic heading by applying the local variation between true north and magnetic north.

The other ideas don’t fit: direction relative to magnetic north is magnetic heading, not true heading; the angular distance from nose to tail isn’t a heading; and orientation relative to the horizon describes attitude, not heading.