Definition
The process of guiding an aircraft from one geographic point to another by determining its position, course, and progress using references such as the magnetic compass, charts, instruments, and electronic or satellite-based aids.
Plain English
Aerial navigation is the work of figuring out where the aircraft is, where it's going, and how to get there safely.
Context Anchor
Seen in compass, chart, cross-country, and instrument flying discussions, especially when magnetic direction and variation affect the course a pilot follows.
Derivation
From Latin aerius ('of the air') and navigatio ('the act of sailing or steering a ship'). The term carries the older idea of steering a vessel and applies it to steering an aircraft through the air.
Why Pilots Care
Understanding aerial navigation allows pilots to maintain accurate headings and reach destinations safely even when magnetic variation must be applied to compass readings.
Intuition Check
Do not read “aerial” here as meaning an antenna or a photograph taken from above. In this term, “aerial” simply means “in the air,” and the term refers to guiding an aircraft from place to place.
Example Sentence 1
Aerial navigation in the early days relied almost entirely on the magnetic compass and visual landmarks.
Example Sentence 2
Effective aerial navigation in instrument conditions depends on cross-checking the compass against other instruments after accounting for variation.