Definition
A CR leg is an RNAV path-and-terminator leg type that defines a specified course the aircraft flies until it intercepts a specified radial from a designated VOR. The leg ends the moment the aircraft crosses that radial, at which point the flight management system sequences to the next leg in the procedure.
Plain English
Fly a set heading or track until you cross a specific line drawn outward from a chosen VOR station. When you cross that line, the leg is finished and the next part of the procedure begins.
Context Anchor
Seen in the path-and-terminator leg types used to code instrument approaches, departures, and arrivals in navigation systems.
Derivation
The two-letter code follows the ARINC 424 path-terminator convention used worldwide for coding flight procedures. The first letter (C) describes the path the aircraft flies — a Course. The second letter (R) describes how the leg ends — at a Radial. Knowing this pattern helps decode any of the path-terminator legs (CF, CA, CD, CR, etc.) without memorising each one separately.
Why Pilots Care
It creates an exact, predictable point where the aircraft leaves the current leg and begins the next one, keeping the aircraft on the published route.
Grounding Statement
Picture flying a published ground direction until you cross a spoke-like line extending from a radio navigation station.
Intuition Check
Course does not mean a loose route here; it means the intended track over the ground. Termination does not mean stopping the airplane; it means the point where this leg ends and the next leg begins.
Example Sentence 1
The departure procedure includes a CR leg requiring the crew to fly a 090° course until intercepting the 160 radial from the ABC VOR.
Example Sentence 2
After the CR leg terminated at the radial, the aircraft turned to join the next segment inbound.