Plain English Meaning

It's the list of ways a magnetic compass can give a misleading reading in flight. Instructors use it as a teaching example because it's a tidy group of items that students can memorize using a short memory trick.

Full Definition

In the Aviation Instructor's Handbook, magnetic compass errors is used as a classic example of a topic that lends itself to mnemonic learning. The specific errors of the magnetic compass — variation, deviation, dip, acceleration/deceleration error, and northerly/southerly turning error — are commonly taught using the mnemonic 'VDMONA' or similar memory aids so students can recall the full set without omission.

Context Anchor

Encountered when learning basic , , and memory aids such as -turning and acceleration-error .