diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e02c580..80b6358 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -11,6 +11,10 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
 
 - A row whose model is an instance of a registered parametric model type, such as `BodyModel{AeroVSM, RigidDynamics}` registered as `BodyModel`, is written under that model's name rather than refused as unregistered.
 
+### Changed
+
+- BREAKING: KiteGeometry no longer has a `calc_heading(R_b_to_w, pos)` of its own; use KiteUtils' `calc_heading(attitude, elevation, azimuth)`. `using KiteUtils, KiteGeometry` no longer leaves `calc_heading` ambiguous.
+
 ## KiteGeometry v0.3.2 2026-10-21
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/docs/src/structure.md b/docs/src/structure.md
index 9e1fe00..b2b635b 100644
--- a/docs/src/structure.md
+++ b/docs/src/structure.md
@@ -69,7 +69,6 @@ place!
 place_transforms!
 reposition!
 transform_velocities
-calc_heading
 ```
 
 ## Components
diff --git a/src/KiteGeometry.jl b/src/KiteGeometry.jl
index 60cd9fd..8f7c074 100644
--- a/src/KiteGeometry.jl
+++ b/src/KiteGeometry.jl
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ for more information.
 module KiteGeometry
 
 using JSON: JSON
-using KiteUtils: KiteUtils, Logger, Settings, SysLog, save_log, wrap2pi
+using KiteUtils: KiteUtils, Logger, Settings, SysLog, calc_heading, save_log, wrap2pi
 using LinearAlgebra: Diagonal, I, cross, dot, norm, normalize
 using OrderedCollections: OrderedDict, OrderedSet
 using SHA: sha256
@@ -24,8 +24,7 @@ using YAML: YAML
 
 export SystemDefinition, Rows, Metadata, Material, Point, Segment, SpanwiseStation, Pulley,
        Tether, Winch, Wing, CanopyFace, Body, Tube, pos_KA
-export Transform, Pose, place!, place_transforms!, reposition!, transform_velocities,
-       calc_heading
+export Transform, Pose, place!, place_transforms!, reposition!, transform_velocities
 export NameRef, AbstractModel, NoModel, SegmentSpring, register_model!, model_type,
        model_columns
 export load_structure, load_authoring, structure_document, connectivity_sha
diff --git a/src/transforms.jl b/src/transforms.jl
index 95f7312..0d075c9 100644
--- a/src/transforms.jl
+++ b/src/transforms.jl
@@ -99,31 +99,6 @@ Pose(placement::Placement) = Pose(placement.pos, placement.body_pos, placement.b
 
 # ==================== TANGENTIAL FRAME ==================== #
 
-"""
-    calc_R_t_to_w(pos)
-
-Rotation from the tangential frame at `pos` [m] into the world: z radial along `pos`, y
-azimuthal and level, x towards elevation, `y × z`.
-"""
-function calc_R_t_to_w(pos)
-    z = normalize(pos)
-    y = abs(pos[1]) < 1e-6 && abs(pos[2]) < 1e-6 ? Vec3(0, 1, 0) :
-        normalize(Vec3(-pos[2], pos[1], 0))
-    return hcat(cross(y, z), y, z)
-end
-
-"""
-    calc_heading(R_b_to_w, pos)
-
-Heading [rad] of the frame `R_b_to_w` at `pos` [m] from the base: the angle of its x axis
-in the tangential plane, from the elevation direction towards the azimuthal one; zero
-with the nose towards the base.
-"""
-function calc_heading(R_b_to_w, pos)
-    e_x_t = calc_R_t_to_w(pos)' * R_b_to_w[:, 1]
-    return atan(e_x_t[2], e_x_t[1])
-end
-
 """
     radial_direction(transform)
 
@@ -205,7 +180,10 @@ function turn!(pose, transform, base_pos)
     radial = radial_direction(transform)
     rotate_members!(pose, transform, base_pos, min_rotation(normalize(rel_pos), radial)...)
     isnothing(transform.body) && return nothing
-    heading = calc_heading(pose.body_R[transform.body], radial)
+    cos_el = cos(transform.elevation)
+    # KiteUtils' azimuth runs from east to north; its heading turns the other way to ours
+    heading = -calc_heading(pose.body_R[transform.body], transform.elevation,
+                            atan(radial[2] / cos_el, radial[1] / cos_el))
     rotate_members!(pose, transform, base_pos, radial,
                     wrap2pi(transform.heading - heading))
     return nothing
diff --git a/test/test-transforms.jl b/test/test-transforms.jl
index d229838..a438119 100644
--- a/test/test-transforms.jl
+++ b/test/test-transforms.jl
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
 
 using KiteGeometry: radial_direction
-using KiteUtils: Settings, set_data_path
+using KiteUtils: KiteUtils, Settings, calc_heading, set_data_path
 using LinearAlgebra: norm, normalize
 using YAML
 
@@ -34,6 +34,13 @@ function tilt_kite!(transforms)
     return transforms
 end
 
+"""Heading [rad] of the kite body of `pose`, in the sense of a transform's `heading`, in
+the tangential frame of where its origin stands from the KCU."""
+function kite_heading(pose)
+    x, y, z = pose.pos[7] - pose.pos[2]
+    return -calc_heading(pose.body_R[1], atan(z, hypot(x, y)), atan(y, x); respos=false)
+end
+
 """`data`, the chained system's YAML, with its kite tilted as [`tilt_kite!`](@ref)."""
 function tilt_kite_row!(data)
     data["transforms"]["data"][2][2] = 48.0
@@ -75,7 +82,7 @@ end
     ground, kcu, kite_origin = pose.pos[1], pose.pos[2], pose.pos[7]
     @test normalize(kcu - ground) ≈ radial_direction(main_tf)
     @test normalize(kite_origin - kcu) ≈ radial_direction(kite_tilt)
-    @test calc_heading(pose.body_R[1], kite_origin - kcu) ≈ kite_tilt.heading
+    @test kite_heading(pose) ≈ kite_tilt.heading
     @test norm(pose.pos[4] - kite_origin) ≈ kite_rigid
 end
 
@@ -85,7 +92,16 @@ end
     kcu, kite_origin = pose.pos[2], pose.pos[7]
     @test pose.pos[2] == system.points[2].pos_ENU
     @test normalize(kite_origin - kcu) ≈ radial_direction(transforms[2])
-    @test calc_heading(pose.body_R[1], kite_origin - kcu) ≈ deg2rad(-35)
+    @test kite_heading(pose) ≈ deg2rad(-35)
+end
+
+@testset "a heading body turns smoothly through the zenith" begin
+    kite_frame_at(elevation) = begin
+        system, transforms = load_chained()
+        transforms[2].elevation = deg2rad(elevation)
+        return Pose(place!(system, transforms)).body_R[1]
+    end
+    @test norm(kite_frame_at(90.1) - kite_frame_at(89.9)) < 0.01
 end
 
 """`data`, the chained system's YAML, with its first transform turning no point."""
@@ -135,3 +151,9 @@ end
         @test iszero(body_spin[1]) == (moving == 1)
     end
 end
+
+@testset "calc_heading is KiteUtils' alone" begin
+    probe = Module()
+    Core.eval(probe, :(using KiteUtils, KiteGeometry))
+    @test Core.eval(probe, :calc_heading) === KiteUtils.calc_heading
+end