Heading indicator
Encyclopedia
The heading indicator is a flight instrument used in an aircraft
to inform the pilot
of the aircraft's heading. It is sometimes referred to by its older names, the directional gyro or DG, and also (UK usage) direction indicator or DI.
, which, however, suffers from several types of errors, including that created by the 'dip' or downward slope of the earth's magnetic field. Dip error causes the magnetic compass to read incorrectly whenever the aircraft is in a bank, or during acceleration, making it difficult to use in any flight condition other than perfectly straight and level. To remedy this, the pilot will typically maneuver the airplane with reference to the heading indicator, as the gyroscopic heading indicator (HI) is unaffected by dip and acceleration errors. The pilot will periodically reset the HI to the heading shown on the magnetic compass.
, tied to the aircraft horizontal, to establish an inertial platform. As such any configuration of the aircraft horizontal which does not match the local earth horizontal results in gimbal error (essentially leading to a variation in the predictable 'apparent' wander known in this instance as drift.) The HI is arranged so that only the horizontal axis is used to drive the display, which consists of a circular compass card calibrated in degrees. The gyroscope is spun either electrically, or using air from a vacuum pump
(sometimes a pressure pump in high altitude aircraft) driven from the aircraft's engine
. Because the earth rotates (ω, 15° per hour), and because of small accumulated errors caused by friction and imperfect balancing of the gyro, the HI will drift over time, and must be reset from the compass periodically. The apparent drift is predicted by ω sin Latitude and will thus be greatest over the poles. Another sort of apparent drift exist in the form of transport wander, where aircraft movement will essentially add or subtract to the effect of the earth's rotation upon a gyroscope. To counter for the effect of earth rate drift a latitude nut can be set (on the ground only) which induces a (hopefully equal and opposite) real wander in the gyroscope. Normal procedure is to realign the direction indicator once each ten to fifteen minutes during routine in-flight checks. Failure to do this is a common source of navigation errors among new pilots.
The prediction of drift in degrees per hour, is as follows:
Although it is possible to predict the drift, there will be minor variations from this basic model, accounted for by gimbal error (operating the aircraft away from the local horizontal), among others. A common source of error here is the improper setting of the latitude nut (to the opposite hemisphere for example). The table however allows one to gauge whether an indicator is behaving as expected, and as such, is compared with the realignment corrections made with reference to the magnetic compass. Transport wander is an undesirable consequence of apparent drift.
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
to inform the pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
of the aircraft's heading. It is sometimes referred to by its older names, the directional gyro or DG, and also (UK usage) direction indicator or DI.
Use
The primary means of establishing the heading in most small aircraft is the magnetic compassCompass
A compass is a navigational instrument that shows directions in a frame of reference that is stationary relative to the surface of the earth. The frame of reference defines the four cardinal directions – north, south, east, and west. Intermediate directions are also defined...
, which, however, suffers from several types of errors, including that created by the 'dip' or downward slope of the earth's magnetic field. Dip error causes the magnetic compass to read incorrectly whenever the aircraft is in a bank, or during acceleration, making it difficult to use in any flight condition other than perfectly straight and level. To remedy this, the pilot will typically maneuver the airplane with reference to the heading indicator, as the gyroscopic heading indicator (HI) is unaffected by dip and acceleration errors. The pilot will periodically reset the HI to the heading shown on the magnetic compass.
Operation
The DG works using a gyroscopeGyroscope
A gyroscope is a device for measuring or maintaining orientation, based on the principles of angular momentum. In essence, a mechanical gyroscope is a spinning wheel or disk whose axle is free to take any orientation...
, tied to the aircraft horizontal, to establish an inertial platform. As such any configuration of the aircraft horizontal which does not match the local earth horizontal results in gimbal error (essentially leading to a variation in the predictable 'apparent' wander known in this instance as drift.) The HI is arranged so that only the horizontal axis is used to drive the display, which consists of a circular compass card calibrated in degrees. The gyroscope is spun either electrically, or using air from a vacuum pump
Vacuum pump
A vacuum pump is a device that removes gas molecules from a sealed volume in order to leave behind a partial vacuum. The first vacuum pump was invented in 1650 by Otto von Guericke.- Types :Pumps can be broadly categorized according to three techniques:...
(sometimes a pressure pump in high altitude aircraft) driven from the aircraft's engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
. Because the earth rotates (ω, 15° per hour), and because of small accumulated errors caused by friction and imperfect balancing of the gyro, the HI will drift over time, and must be reset from the compass periodically. The apparent drift is predicted by ω sin Latitude and will thus be greatest over the poles. Another sort of apparent drift exist in the form of transport wander, where aircraft movement will essentially add or subtract to the effect of the earth's rotation upon a gyroscope. To counter for the effect of earth rate drift a latitude nut can be set (on the ground only) which induces a (hopefully equal and opposite) real wander in the gyroscope. Normal procedure is to realign the direction indicator once each ten to fifteen minutes during routine in-flight checks. Failure to do this is a common source of navigation errors among new pilots.
Variations
Some more expensive heading indicators are 'slaved' to a sensor (called a 'flux gate'). The flux gate continuously senses the earth's magnetic field, and a servo mechanism constantly corrects the heading indicator. These 'slaved gyros' reduce pilot workload by eliminating the need for manual realignment every ten to fifteen minutes.The prediction of drift in degrees per hour, is as follows:
| SOURCE | Drift Rate (Degrees per Hour) | Sign (Northern Hemisphere) | Sign (Southern Hemisphere) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earth Rate | 15 * sin Mean Operating Latitude | - (causing an under-read) | + (causing an over-read) |
| Latitude Nut | 15 * sin Latitude of Setting | + | - |
| Transport Wander EAST | (East Groundspeed Component (or sine track angle x groundspeed or change in longitude/flight time in hours) * tan Mean Operating Latitude)/60 | - | + |
| Transport Wander WEST | (West Groundspeed Component (or sine track angle x groundspeed or change in longitude/flight time in hours) * tan Mean Operating Latitude)/60 | + | - |
| Real/Random Wander | As given in the Aircraft Operating Manual | As given | As given |
Although it is possible to predict the drift, there will be minor variations from this basic model, accounted for by gimbal error (operating the aircraft away from the local horizontal), among others. A common source of error here is the improper setting of the latitude nut (to the opposite hemisphere for example). The table however allows one to gauge whether an indicator is behaving as expected, and as such, is compared with the realignment corrections made with reference to the magnetic compass. Transport wander is an undesirable consequence of apparent drift.
See also
- Acronyms and abbreviations in avionicsAcronyms and abbreviations in avionics-A:*ACARS: Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System.*ACAS: Airborne Collision Avoidance System.*ACP: Audio Control Panel.*ACS: Audio Control System.*ADAHRS: Air Data and Attitude Heading Reference System.*ADC: Air Data Computer....
- Earth Inductor CompassEarth Inductor CompassThe Earth inductor compass is a compass that determines directions using the principle of electromagnetic induction, with the Earth's magnetic field acting as the induction field for an electric generator. The electrical output of the generator will vary depending on its orientation with respect...
- GyrocompassGyrocompassA gyrocompass is a type of non-magnetic compass which bases on a fast-spinning disc and rotation of our planet to automatically find geographical direction...
, a gyroscopic compass used on marine vessels - Horizontal situation indicatorHorizontal Situation IndicatorThe horizontal situation indicator is an aircraft instrument normally mounted below the artificial horizon in place of a conventional heading indicator. It combines a heading indicator with a VOR/ILS display, reducing pilot workload by lessening the number of elements in the pilot's instrument...
- Inertial navigation systemInertial navigation systemAn inertial navigation system is a navigation aid that uses a computer, motion sensors and rotation sensors to continuously calculate via dead reckoning the position, orientation, and velocity of a moving object without the need for external references...
, a far more complex system of gyroscopes that also employ accelerometers