Definition
The procedure of flying a chosen heading to join a specific VOR radial or other navigation course from a position off that course. The pilot selects the desired course on the navigation indicator, determines the angle at which to approach it, and turns onto the new course as the aircraft arrives at it.
Plain English
Flying toward and joining a specific line in space defined by a navigation aid, then turning to follow that line.
Context Anchor
Seen in VOR navigation when the pilot selects a course and uses the navigation indicator to join and follow it.
Derivation
From Latin 'inter-' (between) and 'capere' (to take or seize) -- literally 'to take between.' In navigation it carries the sense of meeting or catching the course at a chosen point, rather than approaching it head-on.
Why Pilots Care
Allows efficient joining of a desired course while controlling the angle of intercept to avoid overshooting or excessive maneuvering.
Analogy
It is like merging onto a road from an angle. You do not point straight at the road forever; you meet it, then turn to travel along it.
Intuition Check
Course interception does not mean simply pointing the airplane directly at the station or destination. It means joining a specific selected line of navigation and then tracking along that line.
Example Sentence 1
After takeoff, the pilot turned to a 30-degree interception angle to join the 360 radial outbound from the VOR.
Example Sentence 2
After identifying the VOR, she planned a 45-degree intercept to establish on the airway.