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An island is observed to be 15° to the left of the aircraft’s longitudinal axis. The aircraft heading is 120°M, variation 17°W. The true bearing from the aircraft to the island is…

  • A

    122°T

  • B

    088°T

  • C

    268°T

  • D

    302°T

Refer to figure.
Relative bearing is the clockwise angle from the fore/aft axis of the aircraft to the station.

  • QDR Aircraft’s Magnetic Bearing from the station (Radial);
  • QDM Aircraft’s Magnetic bearing to the station;
  • QTE Aircraft’s True Bearing from the station;
  • QUJ Aircraft’s True Track to the station.

NOTE: QDM is the reciprocal of QDR; QUJ is the reciprocal of QTE.

Converting a Relative Bearing (RBI) into a True Bearing:

Apply aircraft variation to the magnetic heading to get true heading.
Add relative bearing to true heading in order to obtain true bearing TO the station If the answer comes to more than 360°(T), subtract 360. Take the reciprocal in order to get the True Bearing to plot FROM the station.

QUJ = RBI + True Heading

QTE = RBI + True Heading +180°

To obtain a True Heading from the Magnetic Heading:

True Heading
(T)
Variation
(V)
Magnetic Heading (M) Deviation
(D)
Compass Heading
(C)
103° 17°W 120°

The relative bearing is always measured clockwise from the nose of the aircraft, 15° left is the same as RBI 345°.

Aircraft’s True Track to the island, QUJ = 345° + 103° = 448°
448° - 360° = 88° (T)

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