Definition
A magnetic direction-sensing system in which the magnetic-sensing element (a flux valve) is mounted in a part of the aircraft with minimal magnetic disturbance — typically a wingtip or vertical stabilizer — and electrically transmits heading information to a heading indicator in the cockpit. The system is normally slaved to the magnetic sensor so that the cockpit indicator continuously corrects itself to magnetic north, eliminating the precession errors of an ordinary heading indicator and the turning, acceleration, and dip errors of a panel-mounted magnetic compass.
Plain English
A compass system where the part that senses magnetic north is mounted out in a wingtip or tail — away from cockpit metal and electrical noise — and sends the heading electrically to a dial in front of the pilot. That cockpit dial then reads steadier and more accurately than a regular compass.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when studying heading instruments and compass systems that display magnetic heading on the panel.
Derivation
‘Remote’ comes from the Latin remotus, meaning ‘moved away.’ Here it simply means the sensing part is located away from the cockpit display — out where magnetic interference is lower — and the reading is sent to the pilot electrically.
Why Pilots Care
Provides stable and accurate heading information with far less magnetic interference than a panel-mounted compass, supporting reliable navigation in instrument conditions.
Intuition Check
Do not read “remote” as meaning the pilot controls it from far away. Here it means the sensing part of the compass is located away from the cockpit display.
Example Sentence 1
The remote indicating compass uses a flux valve in the wingtip to feed magnetic heading to the HSI on the panel.
Example Sentence 2
During the preflight, the student verified that the remote indicating compass transmitted correct headings to the cockpit display.