A aviation & planes forum. AviationBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » AviationBanter forum » rec.aviation newsgroups » Instrument Flight Rules
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Magnetic reversal



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #1  
Old April 1st 05, 06:27 PM
Everett M. Greene
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Magnetic reversal

[The following is for idle speculation and mental recreation.]

A recent issue of Scientific American had an article about the
Earth's magnetic field reversals. The article presents some
plausible explanations of the reversals that have occurred
repeatedly throughout geologic times. It also presents some
indications that another reversal is like to happen soon (in
terms of geological time-scale "soon").

It was interesting to contemplate the consequences of a reversal
on our daily lives.

What is ATC going to use for headings?

You may be going geographically northward but the compass is
reading around 180. Which number do you use to describe
what's actually happening?

Airways are prescribed on magnetic courses.
VOR orientations are aligned to magnetic directions.

I imagine that magnetic reversals don't occur overnight, so the
transition would be even more chaotic. We'd get a magnetic
deviation setting along with the local altimeter setting in
clearances?

Since the scenario may be a thousand years or more in the
future ("tomorrow" on the geologic time-scale), none of us
has to worry about it in the next few days.
 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Dynon EFIS D-10 Magnetic heading Paul Lee Home Built 3 November 15th 04 08:41 PM
Do you use your magnetic compass? Roger Long Piloting 42 May 25th 04 12:08 PM
Reasoning behind course reversal Michael 182 Instrument Flight Rules 26 February 27th 04 03:27 PM
Complete Reversal or Not? Greg Esres Instrument Flight Rules 10 February 12th 04 10:05 AM
magnetic variation Angus Lepper Simulators 1 September 23rd 03 06:58 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:59 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2025 AviationBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.