Vertical Card Compasses vs GPS Compass Display

wrote:

I have to agree. Perhaps it's just my ignorance, but when is the
direction that the nose is pointing useful information?

In motorized IFR flights, ATC may ask for your heading and speed. Based
on that information and their radar plot, they can calculate the wind at
your altitude. This is useful information to them plus they then can
vector you by giving you headings.

Not much useful information in a glider, though, as long as your glide
computer works. If however you suffer a power failure in unknown country
with no distinct landmarks and/or poor visibility, I can tell you that
you will be glad to have that gadget. Dont' ask me why I know.

there are no instrument requirements for gliders in the FAR's. So if
you have a type certified glider the only thing that governs you would
be the Handbook or the Type Certificate. For experimental, it
completely depends on your operating limitations that were issued with
your airworthiness certificate. My Cherokee's Op Lims say that I must
be equipped IAW 91.207, so I have a compass. The only reason I have a
compass is to keep the FAA happy. its a normal "whiskey" compass and
bobbles around constantly.

On Sep 21, 9:39 am, wrote:
there are no instrument requirements for gliders in the FAR's.

The compass requirement may be found on the Type Certificate Data
Sheet.

14 CFR (aka "FAR") 91.205 (addressing POWERED aircraft...which would
include motorgliders) says that aircraft must have a magnetic
direction indicator.

While it may not spell out "g-l-i-d-e-r", having one to avoid pain
during a ramp check might be worthwhile.

I have PAI-700's in both my glider and power plane. Some times they
work well, some times they're less desirable than the old whiskey
compass (e.g., in a nose high attitude...). On some airplanes, the
vertical card compass is superior (a Bonanza I used to fly comes to
mind). The chief advantage is a good picture of current vs. desired
heading (or heading to a landmark...maybe useful when navigating near
restricted airspace). Be sure to have a compass correction card on
board...I got dinged by the absence of the sheet...fortunately by my
A&P during an annual inspection!

I've never had a compass stop working because the batteries were
dead. Maybe that's why they're required?

-Pete
#309