Which instrument correlates a pilot's current heading with the intended magnetic heading?

The heading indicator is designed to provide a clear visual representation of the aircraft's current heading in relation to magnetic north. It displays the aircraft's orientation in degrees, allowing pilots to easily compare this heading with their intended magnetic heading, as given by their flight plan or navigational instruments.

This tool is essential for maintaining accurate navigation and ensuring the aircraft is flying in the correct direction. The heading indicator is particularly useful because it is not affected by the aircraft's acceleration or bank angle, which can sometimes affect the performance of other instruments, such as the magnetic compass. This reliability makes the heading indicator a critical instrument for pilots during flight operations, especially when making precise heading adjustments or navigating in complex airspace.

In contrast, while other instruments like the attitude indicator, turn coordinator, and magnetic compass are important for flight management and navigation, they serve different functions that do not directly relate to the correlation of current heading with intended magnetic heading.