Plain English Meaning

A type of ADF gauge where the dial doesn't rotate — north stays at the top no matter which way the aircraft is pointed. The needle shows how far left or right of the nose the radio station is, and the pilot does the math to figure out the actual compass direction to it.

Full Definition

An automatic direction finder (ADF) instrument whose compass card is fixed in position, with 0 (N) permanently at the top of the dial. The single needle points toward the tuned non-directional beacon () and shows the — the from the aircraft's nose clockwise to the station — but does not the directly. The pilot must mentally add the relative bearing to the aircraft's to determine the magnetic bearing to the station.