Horizontal Situation Indicator
What is horizontal situation indicator?
The horizontal situation indicator (HSI) is a flight instrument that combines a rotating 360° magnetic compass card (heading indicator) with navigation guidance, such as VOR or course deviation, on a single display. It shows your exact magnetic heading along with your selected course and how far you are off that course, reducing pilot workload by merging two instruments into one. Think of it as a heading indicator and course deviation indicator combined—giving you the whole "horizontal situation" at a glance.
Also known as: HSI, horizontal situation indicator
Studying for an FAA written test?
Terms like horizontal situation indicator show up on the FAA knowledge test. Study them in context with ACS-aligned practice questions, AI explanations, and the cited FAA handbook reference behind every answer — free to start.