Definition
Cockpit instruments that show the aircraft's heading — the direction the nose is pointing — relative to a reference such as magnetic north or true north. The two most common are the magnetic compass, which senses the Earth's magnetic field directly, and the heading indicator (a gyroscopic instrument), which holds a steady reading and is periodically reset to match the compass.
Plain English
Instruments that tell the pilot which way the airplane is pointing.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying and magnetism discussions, especially when comparing the magnetic compass with other heading instruments.
Derivation
“Direction” comes from a Latin word meaning “to guide or set straight.” “Indicator” comes from a Latin word meaning “to point out.” Together, the phrase means instruments that point out the aircraft’s direction.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate heading information is essential for navigation, course tracking, and avoiding disorientation in instrument conditions.
Intuition Check
Do not read “direction indicators” as any general sign or arrow that shows direction. In this aviation context, it means cockpit instruments that show the aircraft’s heading or direction of travel.
Example Sentence 1
After starting the engine, the pilot checked the direction indicators against the runway heading before taxiing.
Example Sentence 2
After the heading indicator precessed slightly, the pilot reset it using the direction indicators reference from the wet compass.