Verify the digital attitude and heading instruments before flight by checking turn indicators, the magnetic compass, and the slip/skid indicator

Before you take off, there’s a trio of cockpit cues that tell you you’re ready to fly: the digital attitude indicator, the heading indicator, and their partner, the turn and slip/skid indicators. When these instruments are talking to you clearly, you can fly with more confidence, especially in the kind of weather or airspace that likes to test your nerve. Here’s how to check them in a way that feels practical, not ritualistic, and keeps you focused on the sky ahead.

Why these instruments matter, and why they talk to each other

Let me explain it this way: attitude tells you where you’re pointing your nose relative to the horizon, and heading tells you which direction you’re actually moving toward on the globe. The turn indicators give you a read on how quickly you’re turning, and the slip/skid ball shows how coordinated your turn is. When all three are behaving, they reinforce each other. If one is off, you feel it in the air—and you notice it more quickly if you’ve cross-checked. Think of it as having a reliable weather forecast, a trusted compass, and a steady steering wheel all at once. It makes flying smoother and safer.

The three checks you should perform (the “All of the above” routine)

Turn indicators: keep the rhythm

• What to look for: As you start a gentle taxi turn, watch the turn indicator (the needle or bar that shows rate of turn). It should move smoothly in the direction you’re turning and stay within a reasonable arc for the amount of bank you’re applying.

• When straightening out: The needle should return toward the center as you roll out of the turn. If it lags, over- or under-shoots, or feels twitchy, that’s a sign something isn’t syncing with the aircraft’s actual motion.

• Why it matters: The turn indicator helps you gauge your rate of turn when you’re aligning with a course, intercepting a radial, or maneuvering in IFR airspace. If it’s not telling the truth, your bank angle and your navigation could get out of sync.

Magnetic compass stability: a steady echo from the earth

• What to look for: The magnetic compass should settle into a stable heading and stay close to that readout for a bit, especially after you take off or change speed. If the heading wanders or hops, that’s a red flag.

• Practical checks: On the ground, let the aircraft warm up a moment, then listen for any chatter from nearby metal or electrical systems that could cause interference. In flight, compare the heading indicator with the magnetic compass when you’re well clear of magnetic influences (like large metal structures or power lines) and confirm they agree within a few degrees.

• Why it matters: The heading indicator can drift over time, but a stable magnetic compass gives you a grounded reference to cross-check your course. If the compass is unstable, you’ll want to verify installation, calibration, or possible interference sources before trusting your heading in the soup of IFR or busy airspace.

Slip/skid indicator during taxi turns: reading the coordination

• What to look for: While you’re taxiing and making a light, controlled turn, observe the slip/skid indicator ball. In a coordinated turn, the ball stays roughly centered as long as your rudder and aileron inputs balance the turn.

• If the ball isn’t centered: The aircraft is either skidding (too much bank or not enough rudder) or slipping (not enough bank or too much opposite rudder). In a taxi turn, this tells you your coordination isn’t right, and it’s a cue to adjust your rudder input to keep the ball centered.

• Why it matters: Even before you’re airborne, a misbehaving slip/skid indicator can foreshadow handling issues in more dynamic flight. It’s a quick tactile reminder to balance your controls and confirm your setup for a coordinated takeoff.

Putting it together: a calm, repeatable preflight rhythm

• Start with attitude validation: take a quick look at the digital attitude indicator. Confirm the horizon line stays steady as you hold level. If the display drifts or jitters, you’ve got a clue to investigate further before you go.

• Cross-check with the compass: note the heading on the magnetic compass and compare it with the heading indicator. A brief, stable reading on both gives you confidence that the core reference is solid.

• Exercise gentle turns on the ground: a slow, shallow turn is enough to see the turn indicator respond and the ball drift. Roll out smoothly and check that the indicator centers as the turn stops. If it doesn’t, there’s a coordination or instrument issue to address.

• Finish with a tidy wrap-up: as you ready the airplane for a run-up and engine checks, recite in your mind the three checks you did. It’s a small habit, but it reinforces safe, disciplined flying and makes the cockpit feel familiar—where everything has its place.

What to do if something looks off

• A misbehaving turn indicator: note how it acts as you roll into and out of turns. If it’s clearly out of sync with your actual motion, don’t force it. Make a note, and if you’re in doubt, delay flight until you’ve verified system health or consulted the AFM/POH for troubleshooting guidance.

• A wandering compass: a compass that won’t settle or seems overly sensitive to metal or power sources deserves closer inspection. Check for compass calibration issues or interference sources. If you’re unsure, treat heading information as provisional and cross-check with other references until you can confirm.

• A skewed slip/skid ball: a constant off-center ball during taxi or even a slight drift can indicate rudder misalignment or a fault in the inclinometer. It’s not something you should ignore; arrange a deeper check before flight.

A few practical tips you’ll appreciate in real life

• Don’t rush the checks. A minute or two of calm, deliberate observation beats rushing through a sequence and missing something important.

• Use cross-checks to build confidence. If attitude looks right but the compass reads oddly, you haven’t solved one problem—you’ve exposed a potential mismatch that deserves attention.

• Keep the language in your head simple: “Horizon stays fixed. Heading agrees. Ball stays centered.” It’s a mental checklist that travels well with you.

• Remember the limit of one instrument’s truth. The best practice is to corroborate multiple sources of information. Your eyes, your hands, and your instruments all talk to you in different ways; listen to them together.

A note on training and safety culture

These checks aren’t just box-ticking. They’re about situational awareness, redundancy, and safe decision-making. When the aviation environment is busy or the weather is less than ideal, having reliable attitude and heading information becomes your best ally. The moment you start treating these instruments as a single source of truth, you’re missing out on the layered redundancy that keeps pilots safe.

Bringing it home with everyday applicability

You don’t need fancy gadgets to learn this rhythm. A lot of pilots use a simple, repeatable preflight sequence that blends habit with vigilance. The same approach translates to different aircraft, different airports, and even different weather scenarios. It’s about listening to what the cockpit is telling you, and then letting that information guide your decisions with calm confidence.

A gentle reminder of the big picture

Flying is a balance act between trust in your instruments and trust in your own hands and eyes. By checking the turn indicators, ensuring the magnetic compass stays stable, and watching the slip/skid indicator during taxi, you’re doing more than satisfying a checklist. You’re building a shared, honest narrative between what you expect to see and what you actually see in the cockpit. That honesty is what helps you stay ahead of surprises and keep your flight smooth from pushback to wheels up.

If you’re curious about how these instruments evolve with modern avionics, you’ll notice the same fundamentals carry over. Digital attitude and heading systems still rely on careful calibration, robust cross-checking, and a disciplined preflight routine. The tools may look different, but the underlying mindset—verify, corroborate, and prepare—stays the same. And when you carry that mindset with you, you’ll find that even high-tech cockpits reward clarity, patience, and a little good old-fashioned common sense.

To wrap it up, the “All of the above” approach to preflight checks—turn indicators, magnetic compass stability, and slip/skid coordination—keeps your flight deck honest. It’s a simple triad, but it’s powerful enough to set the tone for a safe, confident journey through airspace. So next time you’re taxiing out, take a moment with these three checks. You’ll likely notice the difference not just in the numbers on a screen, but in the quiet steadiness of your hands on the controls and your mind on the horizon.