What action should a pilot take to ensure compliance with navigation regulations during flight?

Frequent communication with air traffic control is essential for ensuring compliance with navigation regulations during flight. By staying in constant contact with air traffic control, pilots can receive real-time updates about airspace restrictions, traffic advisories, and other critical information that may affect their navigation. This helps in maintaining situational awareness and adhering to airspace rules, which is crucial for safety and regulatory compliance.

While using visual references can be important, relying solely on them may not take into account the current airspace structure or temporary changes due to air traffic. Maintaining a constant heading might seem like a good strategy, but this practice can lead to navigational errors if it isn't adjusted based on current conditions or instructions from air traffic control. Adjusting according to GPS readings is beneficial but should always be supplemented with communication, as GPS data may not always reflect current airspace changes or advisories. Keeping open lines of communication with air traffic control ultimately supports effective and compliant navigation throughout the flight.