Definition
An RNAV path-and-terminator leg type defined by flying a specified course until intercepting a specified radial from a designated VOR. The leg ends at the point where the aircraft crosses that radial.
Plain English
Fly along a set course line, and the leg finishes the moment you cross a specific radial coming from a chosen VOR station.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument approach and departure procedure coding, especially when reading about path and terminator legs used by flight management systems.
Derivation
The two-letter codes used for path-and-terminator legs follow a simple pattern: the first letter is the path, the second is the terminator (what ends the leg). 'C' stands for Course and 'R' stands for Radial — so CR means 'fly a course until you hit a radial.'
Why Pilots Care
It creates a reliable, repeatable point where the aircraft changes direction or begins the next segment without relying on distance or time alone.
Grounding Statement
Picture flying along one planned line until you cross another invisible line drawn outward from a ground navigation station.
Intuition Check
Do not read “leg” as a physical leg or just a general trip segment. Here it means a specifically coded part of an instrument procedure, with a defined path and a defined endpoint.
Example Sentence 1
The departure procedure begins with a CR leg: fly runway heading until intercepting the 090 radial from the ABC VOR.
Example Sentence 2
After crossing the fix the autopilot maintained the CR leg until the radial capture annunciation appeared.