Which term describes the actual path of the aircraft over the ground?

• A. Track
• B. Bearing
• C. Course
• D. Heading

Answer: (A)

The term that describes the actual path of the aircraft over the ground is track. Track is the real trajectory you trace on the earth’s surface, which can differ from the direction the nose is pointed because of wind drifting the aircraft sideways. The course is the planned route you intend to fly relative to north, while the heading is the direction the aircraft’s nose is pointing, which may be offset from the track due to wind. Bearing is the direction from your current position to a specific point, not the aircraft’s path. So the actual ground path—what you’re looking at on the map as the route you’ve actually taken—is track.