What is a Compass?

My wife asked if we need a compass in the Pipistrel Sinus since we received
one in a box of stuff and none is installed in the aircraft. I told her I'd
check the flight manual. Under "Minimum Equipment" it states that a
"Compass" is required - it does not state that a "Magnetic Compass" is
required.

So... Is a GPS suitable? It has a north arrow and displays track. I don't
want to call the FSDO... I suppose I could carry an artillery compass in my
pocket!

Certainly a magnetic compass is required under UK/EASA rules, I think it
may well be under FAA rules too, though I'm not certain without looking it
up. The arguement for it is that it is possible that the GPS signals may
fail and the GPS sets themselves are not a reliable as a good old magnetic
compass.

At 15:12 10 April 2014, Dan Marotta wrote:
My wife asked if we need a compass in the Pipistrel Sinus since we
received

one in a box of stuff and none is installed in the aircraft. I told her
I'd
check the flight manual. Under "Minimum Equipment" it states that a
"Compass" is required - it does not state that a "Magnetic Compass" is
required.

So... Is a GPS suitable? It has a north arrow and displays track. I
don't
want to call the FSDO... I suppose I could carry an artillery compass in
my
pocket!

Oddly enough, under European rules, a glider doesn't need a magnetic
compass unless it has an engine (self launch or sustainer).

I wondered what the logic was, then thought come on, EASA logic is an
oxymoron.

At 15:23 10 April 2014, Chris Rollings wrote:
Certainly a magnetic compass is required under UK/EASA rules, I think i
may well be under FAA rules too, though I'm not certain without looking i
up. The arguement for it is that it is possible that the GPS signals ma
fail and the GPS sets themselves are not a reliable as a good old magneti
compass.

At 15:12 10 April 2014, Dan Marotta wrote:
My wife asked if we need a compass in the Pipistrel Sinus since w
received

one in a box of stuff and none is installed in the aircraft. I told her
I'd
check the flight manual. Under "Minimum Equipment" it states that a
"Compass" is required - it does not state that a "Magnetic Compass" is
required.

So... Is a GPS suitable? It has a north arrow and displays track. I
don't
want to call the FSDO... I suppose I could carry an artillery compass
in
my
pocket!

I guess I'll have to dig deeper into the regulations. I thought the FAA
requires that the aircraft be equipped according to the MEL. And my MEL
states "Compass", not "Magnetic Compass". Does the FAA specifically require
a magnetic compass? Must it be permanently installed?

Where I fly I really don't need a compass. I have the Rocky Mountains.
They run generally north/south. Then there's Sandia Mountain which shows me
precicely where Albuquerque lies and I can easily find home from there.

"Larry" wrote in message
...
In the use a magnetic compass is required as well as a compass
correction card. Not having the card has been cited by the FAA at
times when doing ramp checks.

On Thu, 10 Apr 2014 09:12:17 -0600, "Dan Marotta"
wrote:

My wife asked if we need a compass in the Pipistrel Sinus since we
received
one in a box of stuff and none is installed in the aircraft. I told her
I'd
check the flight manual. Under "Minimum Equipment" it states that a
"Compass" is required - it does not state that a "Magnetic Compass" is
required.

So... Is a GPS suitable? It has a north arrow and displays track. I
don't
want to call the FSDO... I suppose I could carry an artillery compass in
my
pocket!


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In the use a magnetic compass is required as well as a compass
correction card. Not having the card has been cited by the FAA at
times when doing ramp checks.

On Thu, 10 Apr 2014 09:12:17 -0600, "Dan Marotta"
wrote:

My wife asked if we need a compass in the Pipistrel Sinus since we received
one in a box of stuff and none is installed in the aircraft. I told her I'd
check the flight manual. Under "Minimum Equipment" it states that a
"Compass" is required - it does not state that a "Magnetic Compass" is
required.

So... Is a GPS suitable? It has a north arrow and displays track. I don't
want to call the FSDO... I suppose I could carry an artillery compass in my
pocket!


---
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http://www.avast.com

Sec. 91.205

Powered civil aircraft with standard category U.S. airworthiness certificates: Instrument and equipment requirements.

(a) General. Except as provided in paragraphs (c)(3) and (e) of this section, no person may operate a powered civil aircraft with a standard category U.S. airworthiness certificate in any operation described in paragraphs (b) through (f) of this section unless that aircraft contains the instruments and equipment specified in those paragraphs (or FAA-approved equivalents) for that type of operation, and those instruments and items of equipment are in operable condition.

(b) Visual-flight rules (day). For VFR flight during the day, the following instruments and equipment are required:

(1) Airspeed indicator.
(2) Altimeter.
(3) Magnetic direction indicator.
(4) Tachometer for each engine.
(5) Oil pressure gauge for each engine using pressure system.
(6) Temperature gauge for each liquid-cooled engine.
(7) Oil temperature gauge for each air-cooled engine.
(8) Manifold pressure gauge for each altitude engine.
(9) Fuel gauge indicating the quantity of fuel in each tank.
(10) Landing gear position indicator, if the aircraft has a retractable landing gear.
(11) For small civil airplanes certificated after March 11, 1996, in accordance with part 23 of this chapter, an approved aviation red or aviation white anticollision light system. In the event of failure of any light of the anticollision light system, operation of the aircraft may continue to a location where repairs or replacement can be made.
(12) If the aircraft is operated for hire over water and beyond power-off gliding distance from shore, approved flotation gear readily available to each occupant and, unless the aircraft is operating under part 121 of this subchapter, at least one pyrotechnic signaling device. As used in this section, "shore" means that area of the land adjacent to the water which is above the high water mark and excludes land areas which are intermittently under water.
(13) An approved safety belt with an approved metal-to-metal latching device for each occupant 2 years of age or older.
(14) For small civil airplanes manufactured after July 18, 1978, an approved shoulder harness for each front seat. The shoulder harness must be designed to protect the occupant from serious head injury when the occupant experiences the ultimate inertia forces specified in Sec. 23.561(b)(2) of this chapter. Each shoulder harness installed at a flight crewmember station must permit the crewmember, when seated and with the safety belt and shoulder harness fastened, to perform all functions necessary for flight operations. For purposes of this paragraph--
(i) The date of manufacture of an airplane is the date the inspection acceptance records reflect that the airplane is complete and meets the FAA-approved type design data; and
(ii) A front seat is a seat located at a flight crewmember station or any seat located alongside such a seat.
(15) An emergency locator transmitter, if required by Sec. 91.207.
(16) For normal, utility, and acrobatic category airplanes with a seating configuration, excluding pilot seats, of 9 or less, manufactured after December 12, 1986, a shoulder harness for--
(i) Each front seat that meets the requirements of Sec. 23.785 (g) and (h) of this chapter in effect on December 12, 1985;
(ii) Each additional seat that meets the requirements of Sec. 23.785(g) of this chapter in effect on December 12, 1985.
(17) For rotorcraft manufactured after September 16, 1992, a shoulder harness for each seat that meets the requirements of Sec. 27.2 or Sec. 29.2 of this chapter in effect on September 16, 1991.

If you have an ADHRS it might meet the requirement. (I don't know) If so where is the correction card for it?

Good question!

On Thursday, April 10, 2014 1:09:04 PM UTC-5, Tom (2NO) wrote:
Sec. 91.205 Powered civil aircraft with standard category U.S. airworthiness certificates: Instrument and equipment requirements.

Pipistrel Sinus does not have a US Standard Airworthiness Certificate. See initial post.

My (non-FAA-specific) understanding is that a compass can be a
traditional magnetic compass or an electronic compass, as in an
electronic device that senses the earth magnetic field. In the case of
an electronic compass, there are usually redundancy requirements for the
power source that can be satisfied by an alternate power source for the
instrument.

A GPS senses course, not heading, so I doubt it would satisfy the
compass requirement.


On 10/04/2014 18:12, Dan Marotta wrote:
My wife asked if we need a compass in the Pipistrel Sinus since we
received one in a box of stuff and none is installed in the aircraft. I
told her I'd check the flight manual. Under "Minimum Equipment" it
states that a "Compass" is required - it does not state that a "Magnetic
Compass" is required.

So... Is a GPS suitable? It has a north arrow and displays track. I
don't want to call the FSDO... I suppose I could carry an artillery
compass in my pocket!

I'll mount the compass and save any hassles.


"Alexander Georgas" wrote in message
...
My (non-FAA-specific) understanding is that a compass can be a traditional
magnetic compass or an electronic compass, as in an electronic device that
senses the earth magnetic field. In the case of an electronic compass,
there are usually redundancy requirements for the power source that can be
satisfied by an alternate power source for the instrument.

A GPS senses course, not heading, so I doubt it would satisfy the compass
requirement.


On 10/04/2014 18:12, Dan Marotta wrote:
My wife asked if we need a compass in the Pipistrel Sinus since we
received one in a box of stuff and none is installed in the aircraft. I
told her I'd check the flight manual. Under "Minimum Equipment" it
states that a "Compass" is required - it does not state that a "Magnetic
Compass" is required.

So... Is a GPS suitable? It has a north arrow and displays track. I
don't want to call the FSDO... I suppose I could carry an artillery
compass in my pocket!