north? Which way is ยป By Jill Brown ILLUSTRATION BY GUY BILLOUT HOW MAGNETIC VARIATION AFFECTS YOUR TRAVEL PLANS A compass needle always points north- but which one? To successfully navigate your aircraft, it's important to understand the science of magnetic variation. There are two norths you'll need to consider. Which north you choose to use for navigating has critical ramifications to your success. So just what are these two norths? First, there's true north, which is the geographic location of the North Pole, marked by the Earth's axis, in relation to where you are. This north is the northern location of Washington state in relation to California or Maine in relation to Florida. Aviation sectional charts use true north for their orientation. 46 / FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORGhttp://FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG