Definition
In scenario-based training, the set of possible decisions or responses a pilot can choose from when faced with a situation in flight. Each course of action represents a distinct path forward, with its own likely outcomes, risks, and trade-offs that the pilot must evaluate before committing.
Plain English
The different choices a pilot could make to handle a situation. Each choice leads somewhere different, so the pilot has to weigh them and pick the best one.
Context Anchor
Seen in scenario-based training, decision-making discussions, and instructor-led questions about how a pilot should respond to a developing situation.
Derivation
From the Latin 'cursus' meaning 'a running' or 'path,' combined with 'action,' meaning 'something done.' A 'course of action' is literally 'a path of doing' — the route you take to handle a situation.
Why Pilots Care
Considering multiple courses of action improves judgment and reduces the chance of reacting with the first idea that comes to mind.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as a flight course or training course. Here, a course of action means an option for what the pilot can do next.
Example Sentence 1
When the ceiling dropped below forecast, the instructor asked the student to list possible courses of action: continue, divert, or return to the departure airport.
Example Sentence 2
After reviewing the scenario, the student chose to divert rather than continue, showing they had weighed the other courses of action.