Why The Hell... (random rant)

"Mxsmanic" wrote ..
Snowbird writes:

That's your opinion then. I can speak from my own experience, I've been
in
that situation a few times and the magnetic compass has been a great
help.

In a jet airliner? (That was the aircraft being discussed.)


I see no reference to jet airliners in the OP's post. On the contrary, since
he referred to his own flightplanning, that likely implies he flies a light
aircraft. An airliner pilot would presumably have the airline's planning
department do these chores for him.


I'll grant that it would be okay in a tiny aircraft with just you as
passenger. It would be as bad as nothing at all in the case of a large
airliner with hundreds of people aboard.


Your opinion again. That airliner captain would have training and experience
in using a magnetic compass, so it certainly would be better than nothing to
him.


Of course without training and practical experience in using the magnetic
compass, its value is limited. But using it happens to be included in the
pilot's license curriculum, and for a reason.

How often do pilots practice flying with just a compass once they've
obtained
their licenses?


There are such things as proficiency check flights, where the examiner may
choose to test the pilot's knowledge on that subject. Pilots obviously want
to pass the checkride. Anyway, it's not a particularly difficult skill.