Ace the Skies in 2025: Master the Pilot Café IFR Practice Test and Soar with Confidence!

The heading indicator's primary function is to show the aircraft's current heading, which is the direction the aircraft is facing relative to magnetic north. It is crucial for navigation, allowing pilots to maintain or change their course as needed. The heading indicator provides pilots with a visual representation of their orientation, enabling them to make informed adjustments during flight.

While the heading indicator may reflect changes in heading, its main role is to consistently provide the aircraft's current heading, not just to indicate changes. This is vital for maintaining course during instrument flight, where other means of navigation might not be as effective. The heading indicator does not measure airspeed, provide altitude data, or indicate vertical descent, as those functions are served by other instruments in the cockpit.