Abstract:
Although the modern electronic devices are used as a primary direction indicators for aircrafts, magnetic compasses remain important back-up systems on airplanes. Airports infrastructure must include special sites which allow an aircraft check to be performed, and to calibrate onboard compasses. There are certain requirements towards those sites and the most important one is the geomagnetic declination homogeneity. The present paper describes methodology and results of the geomagnetic survey performed at the Sofia airport investigating the suitability of the north deicing pad to be used as a calibration site for aircraft compass systems. The total intensity of the geomagnetic field and geomagnetic declination were measured and analyzed. As a result, major magnetic disturbers were delineated and the suitable for compass calibration area was determined.