Commercial Pilot License (CPL) Practice Exam 2025 - Free Commercial Pilot License Practice Questions and Study Guide

A gyro compass plays a crucial role in ensuring accurate heading reference for bearing indications in navigation systems such as ADF (Automatic Direction Finder) and VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range). The gyro compass maintains a stable heading reference by using gyroscopic principles, which helps pilots determine their aircraft's orientation relative to true north. This reference is critical when interpreting the directional information provided by ADF and VOR systems, as accurate heading data ensures that the bearing indicated from these navigation aids corresponds correctly to the aircraft's actual course over the ground.

The other options are less relevant in the context of gyro compasses. For example, while speed data and altitude information are important for navigation, they are not provided by a gyro compass and are instead sourced from different instruments such as airspeed indicators and altimeters. Additionally, a gyro compass does not replace ADF and VOR systems; rather, it works alongside them to improve overall navigational accuracy.