When converting from magnetic course to true course, how should a pilot adjust for variation?

When converting from magnetic course to true course, the correct approach is to adjust for variation by adding easterly variation. Magnetic variation, also known as magnetic declination, is the angle between magnetic north and true north. It is critical for pilots to understand that variation is dependent on their geographic location; thus, it can either be easterly or westerly.

Easterly variation indicates that magnetic north is east of true north, meaning that if you want to convert a magnetic heading to true, you need to add this variation. For instance, if your calculated magnetic course is 090 degrees and there is an easterly variation of 5 degrees, you would add the 5 degrees to get a true course of 095 degrees.

In contrast, westerly variation would require you to subtract from the magnetic course to find the true course, as magnetic north would be west of true north.

Understanding that variation varies with location allows for precise navigation and ensures that flight paths are accurately planned. This is vital for safe and effective operation, especially over long distances or in unfamiliar regions.