Monitoring changes in local magnetic direction is essential to keep what oriented?

• A. Runway lighting aligned
• B. Wind equipment orientation
• C. Aircraft schedules updated
• D. Fuel accounting accurate

Answer: (B)

Magnetic variation can drift over time, so equipment that relies on a compass reference must stay aligned with the current magnetic direction. Wind indicators—like wind vanes and related sensors—are typically oriented to magnetic north. If the local magnetic direction changes and the equipment isn’t checked, the wind readings pilots rely on could become misinterpreted. Keeping wind equipment oriented to the current magnetic direction ensures the reported wind direction is accurate, which is essential for safe takeoffs and landings.

The other options aren’t driven by magnetic direction: runway lighting follows the physical runway alignment, which is a fixed structure, and schedules or fuel accounting aren’t dependent on magnetic variation.