What defines Magnetic heading?

• A. The direction an aircraft is pointed with respect to true north.
• B. The direction the aircraft is moving relative to magnetic north.
• C. The altitude of the aircraft.
• D. The direction an aircraft is pointed with respect to magnetic north.

Answer: (D)

Magnetic heading is the direction the airplane’s nose is pointing relative to magnetic north. It’s the orientation shown by your magnetic compass or heading indicator, not the path you’re actually moving over the ground. The distinction matters because true heading uses true north instead of magnetic north, and you convert between them using magnetic variation. The actual motion over the ground (the track) can differ from the heading due to wind, and altitude has no bearing on the heading itself.