Plain English Meaning

A course is the path you fly across the ground, defined as a specific direction measured in degrees from a VOR station. There are 360 of them around every VOR, one for each compass direction.

Full Definition

In VOR navigation, courses are the 360 magnetic directional lines (radials) that radiate outward from a VOR station, used by pilots to navigate to or from the station along a specific track over the ground.

Context Anchor

Seen when setting, intercepting, or tracking a VOR course during instrument navigation.

Derivation

From the Latin 'cursus,' meaning a running, path, or way. In navigation, it has long meant the intended path of travel. The use keeps that idea: the line you intend to follow across the ground.