When converting from true course to magnetic heading, what adjustment should a pilot apply?

• A. Add westerly variation and subtract left wind correction angle
• B. Add easterly variation and add right wind correction angle
• C. Subtract westerly variation and subtract left wind correction angle
• D. Subtract easterly variation and add left wind correction angle

Answer: (A)

When converting a true course to a magnetic heading, you adjust for variation. Variation tells you how far magnetic north is from true north, and the rule is: if variation is east, add to the true course; if variation is west, subtract from the true course. Wind correction angle is a separate adjustment used to maintain the desired ground track in the presence of wind, and it is not part of the conversion from true course to magnetic heading itself. So for a westerly variation, you would subtract that amount to get the magnetic heading, and you would apply the wind correction angle later when determining the exact heading to fly to stay on course.