When converting from true course to magnetic heading, what does a pilot need to consider regarding variation and wind correction?

When converting from true course to magnetic heading, pilots must factor in magnetic variation (also referred to as magnetic declination) and wind correction angles to accurately determine their heading.

Magnetic variation indicates the difference between true north and magnetic north and is expressed in degrees east or west. If there is westerly variation, this means that magnetic north is to the west of true north; thus, to convert from true course to magnetic heading, the variation must be added.

In addition, the wind correction angle comes into play, which is necessary when calculating the actual flight path over the ground, accounting for the drift caused by wind. If wind is pushing the aircraft to the left of its intended track, the correction angle needs to be subtracted from the true course. Conversely, if the wind pushes to the right, the correction should be added.

Therefore, when the pilot needs to adjust for westerly variation, it is necessary to add this to the true course. When faced with a left wind correction angle, this must be subtracted from the resultant heading to determine the final magnetic heading.

Thus, the reasoning aligns with the correct approach to converting true course to magnetic heading, highlighting the importance of both magnetic variation and wind correction in