Track (navigation)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In navigation, a track is the actual path followed, or intended to be followed, by a moving body. In many circumstances, this is equivalent to a bearing, but it has a particular difference in aviation.

In aviation, the bearing is the direction in which the aircraft is facing. The track is the path the aircraft follows, or intends to follow, over the surface of the earth. Where there is no wind, the track and bearing are identical. When wind is present, and is not a directly facing or tail wind, the wind deflects the aircraft from its heading, making its heading and track diverge.

To correct for the wind, the aircraft points slightly into the wind. The amount depends on the aircraft's speed, the wind's speed, and the angle of the wind in relation to the aircraft, and is called the wind correction angle.