What is the "1 in 60 rule" in navigation?

The "1 in 60 rule" in navigation describes the concept whereby for every degree of angular error in your heading, you will be off course by one nautical mile for every 60 nautical miles you travel. This principle is crucial for understanding the relationship between angular deviation and distance. If you make a 1-degree error while tracking a route of 60 nautical miles, you will end up 1 nautical mile away from your intended path.

This rule is often applied in navigation to help pilots and mariners comprehend how small discrepancies in their heading can lead to significant positional errors over greater distances. Understanding this relationship aids in refining navigation techniques and minimizing the risk of being off course during travel.

The other options do not accurately reflect the relationship described by the "1 in 60 rule." For example, while the first option mentions a degree error leading to a distance off target, it incorrectly states that a 1-degree error results in being 60 nautical miles off target, which misrepresents the scaling of distance. The third and fourth options introduce altitude and distance deviations that do not relate to the fundamental premise of the "1 in 60 rule" regarding angular error in a horizontal plane.