How to Calibrate the AV-Mag

Tech Tip Tuesday: AV-Mag Calibration (Video Transcript)

In this video, we will demonstrate how to calibrate the AV-Mag. You will see a flashing “MAG CAL” flag on the right-hand side of the device (noted in video). The first thing we need to do, is to into the install menu, so press the left button 3X. Then using the center knob (PUSH-SET), you will rotate to the MAG-CAL.

To begin to calibrate, you will need to press the center button 1X, and then press the right button (HLD BRT) 1X, that reads: CALB on the lower right-hand screen of the device.

After completing those steps, you will wait several seconds until the unit tells you that we can line up on north. Once it does, you will move on and click press the right button 1X to select “NEXT” and wait for it to calibrate. Then, the unit is going to tell us to turn to three zero. As long as you know north, you're going to have a countdown as it takes you down to zero, and then you'll be able to click the next button then—eventually take you to the next setting.

In the video, it is demonstrated that there is a 12-point calibration, and you are eventually able to press the right button 1X to select “NEXT.” The video then shows that the next setting is going to be zero six zero, which will require for you to wait for that to calibrate. When you are doing more than one indicator, you can do them at the same time.

Following, you will press the right button 1X to select “NEXT,” and now it's going to direct you to go to the next setting of zero nine zero. While you are completing this progress, it is also recommended that you have your normal amount of lights on, in order to highlight any discrepancies that may exist. You would be able to see this while you're doing the calibration.

Next, you will move onto one two zero degrees. You will be able to note the countdown all the way to zero, so you will not have to worry about getting on the compass rose. This video demonstration shows that we could just refer to the north and then use the AV-30 for the rest of the headings.

Important things to remember while you're doing the AV-MAG calibration:

• If for some reason you get a “NO MAG” flag, then you need to check and make sure that your connections are correct and that there's nothing prohibiting it from being connected. There is a brown wire, a red wire, and a black wire, and if any of those wires are not connected properly, you will not be able to get the MAG-CAL.
• If you have a “NO MAG” flag, you will not be able to complete the MAG calibration.

Following the last step we just completed, we will move onto making a heading to two one zero. If for some reason after the MAG calibration, you observe some deviations in the DG heading or you see it jumping around, pay close attention to what has been turned on or off, or investigate if anything may be causing interference with the magnetometer.

The hope is that during the installation phase, everything was turned on and it was ensured that nothing was present that could potentially interfere with it.

During the installation, observe the DG heading, as it should be a steady turn, and not moving around. If you see the heading moving around, it should not jump back and forth several degrees. If you note something like this during the install process, you will need to find a different location or figure out what may be causing the issue. For example, strobe lights can cause problems—the grounding of the strobe lights, specifically.

Next, in this MAG CAL process, we move onto two seven zero. At this point, we are almost done, with two more headings to go. Something to note is that if you do go past a heading, you can always go back to it. You will need to turn—if you're going right and you go past it; you can just go left and go back to that heading. With that, keep in mind that you're going to want to make sure you have a large space to maneuver around. Most airports have either a grassy area or even a paved area that you should be able to go and maneuver around. And as mentioned before, all you need to know is north.

Finally, we move onto our last heading. The last one may take a longer time than the previous ones. Once you are done, you will want to go through and verify all headings and adjust if necessary. If you are off just a little, and you want to make sure everything is exactly right, you can still adjust DG heading. You will want to access the PUSH-SET menu, by pressing the center button, and it will be the last adjustment. You are able to do this if you want to get that one degree closer to the most accurate reading. Keep in mind that the power cycle will reset adjustments.