Drone exam · UAS general knowledge

A pilot calibrates the compass before every flight, including beside vehicles and reinforced concrete, because they believe more calibration is always safer. Why can this be poor practice?

Answer

Calibration should follow the manufacturer's instructions and be performed in an environment suitable for that sensor. Calibrating near magnetic interference can teach the system a distorted reference instead of correcting it.

Explanation

Calibration is a measurement process, not a ritual. Bad reference conditions can introduce an error that was not present before.