What is the relationship between magnetic variation and pilot navigation?

Magnetic variation, also known as magnetic declination, is the angle between magnetic north (the direction a magnetic compass points) and true north (the direction along the Earth's surface towards the North Pole). Understanding this relationship is crucial for pilots as it directly affects navigation.

When flying, pilots rely on headings provided by their navigation instruments, which are calibrated to true north. However, due to magnetic variation, a pilot must adjust their headings to account for the difference between true north and magnetic north. If this adjustment is not made, the aircraft may not be flying toward its intended destination, potentially leading to navigation errors and compromising safety.

In practical terms, knowing the magnetic variation allows pilots to compute the correct heading to compensate for this difference, ensuring that they remain on course. This involves using local magnetic variation data available from aeronautical charts and adjusting their flight plan accordingly.

Thus, the necessity for pilots to correctly adjust their headings to account for magnetic variation is fundamental for accurate navigation, making this option the most applicable in the context of pilot navigation.