Before movement, where must the INS be aligned?

• A. On deck
• B. In flight
• C. In the flight deck locker
• D. In the navigation room

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that an INS must be aligned while the vehicle is stationary on a stable, level surface to establish an accurate reference frame before any movement. Doing this on deck provides that stable, level platform and keeps the system free from the accelerations and vibrations that would come with flight or a confined space. Being in flight would introduce motion and forces that corrupt the alignment process, making the initialization inaccurate. A flight deck locker or navigation room isn’t the standard, stable setting needed for a reliable alignment. So, alignment is performed on deck before movement.