CHOOSING A COMPASS
The CA-420 Digital Compass is a self-contained magnetic-measuring standard for the testing and alignment of aircraft heading systems.
The CA-420 is unique in that its operation is performed while attached to the aircraft undergoing test and is aligned with an integral laser to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. This simplifies the steps involved in aligning aircraft along ground references or distant objects and provides superior overall accuracy of the headings read.
Capital Avionics (CA) offers several families of aircraft adapters for use on fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft.
Our most popular adapters mount on the wing of fixed wing aircraft and the horizontal stabilizer of rotor wing aircraft. The CA-420A compass sensor is aligned to the longitudinal axis (fuselage centerline) by targeting with its laser the centerline of the aircraft from either the front or rear of the aircraft. This measured heading is then transferred to the CA-420A after mounting at a specific location that has been determined to be free of objectional magnetic interference. The CA-420A is then locked at that heading and the aircraft can be swung at various headings for its maintenance. This is the Laser Airframe Reference method.For an in-depth description of this operation, refer to the CA-420 Operator’s Manual PN 21-0003-04 or latest revision.
| CA-420C-01 | 31-0008-01 | Laser Airframe Reference 3.0” Wing Chord |
| CA-420C-02 | 31-0008-02 | Laser Airframe Reference 5.5” Wing Chord |
| CA-420C-04 | 31-0008-04 | Laser Airframe Reference 8.5” Wing Chord |
| CA-420C-06 | 31-0008-06 | Laser Airframe Reference 10.5” Wing Chord |
For applications where greater accuracy and repeatability are required, a family of Laser Offset Alignment adapters are available. For these tests, the CA-420A is placed at a precise offset from the aircraft centerline and its integral laser is aligned to a corresponding offset at the distant point on the fuselage (often the nose of the aircraft).
CA offers specific adapter kits for various fixed and rotary wing aircraft models and additional models can be added as needed.
These adapters begin with the basic Laser Offset Alignment kit to fit the airfoil used to mount the CA-420A. A test procedure is added to this base kit for specific models of aircraft. Therefore, for many rotor wing operators, a single base 3” kit will test a fleet of multiple models with only the need for their respective test procedures.
Below is an example of the Laser Offset Target for rotor wing aircraft.
| CA-420C-07 | 31-0008-07 | Laser Airframe Reference 3.0” Wing Chord |
| CA-420C-08 | 31-0008-08 | Laser Airframe Reference 5.5” Wing Chord |
| CA-420C-09 | 31-0008-09 | Laser Airframe Reference 8.5” Wing Chord |
| CA-420C-10 | 31-0008-10 | Laser Airframe Reference 10.5” Wing Chord |
| CA-420C-13 | 31-0008-13 | Laser Offset Sikorsky UH-60 – all models |
| CA-420C-15 | 31-0008-15 | Laser Offset Kazan MI-17 |
| CA-420C-17 | 31-0008-17 | Laser Offset Pilatus PC-12 (undergoing revision) |
| CA-420C-18 | 31-0008-18 | Laser Offset Airbus/CASA CN-235 |
| CA-420C-22 | 31-0008-22 | Laser Offset Bell 407 |
| CA-420C-23 | 31-0008-23 | Laser Offset Sikorsky S-92A |
| CA-420C-24 | 31-0008-24 | Laser Offset Lockheed C-130 |
| CA-420C-26 | 31-0008-26 | Laser Offset Airbus/CASA 212 |
| CA-420C-27 | 31-0008-27 | Laser Offset Sikorsky PZL M28 SkyTruck |
| CA-420C-29 | 31-0008-29 | Laser Offset Bell OH-58 Kiowa |
| CA-420C-30 | 31-0008-30 | Laser Offset Kazan MI-171E |
If you do not see a kit for the aircraft that you are supporting, we will be glad to add it. All that we will need is a similar model being made available for adapter selection/design and test purposes (generally 2-3 visits on-site each for half a day).
For operators that need a testing solution not provided by Airframe Reference or Laser Offset Alignment adapter kits, we can design a special adapter for drones, UAVs, aerospace vehicles or other applications. Contact us and we will be glad to work with you on providing a solution.
All questions, please contact us at info@capitalavionics.com, telephone (011) 850.370.1306.
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