Definition
The intended horizontal direction of travel of an aircraft over the ground, expressed as a magnetic or true bearing in degrees from 000° to 360°. The course is the planned line drawn between two points; it is what the pilot intends to follow, distinct from heading (where the nose is pointed) and track (the actual path flown over the ground).
Plain English
The direction you plan to fly from one point to another, measured in degrees on the compass. It is the line on the map you intend to follow.
Context Anchor
Seen on navigation displays, GPS units, flight plans, and procedures where a pilot selects or follows a planned direction.
Derivation
From Latin cursus, meaning 'a running' or 'a path travelled.' The aviation use keeps that original sense: the path you intend to run between two points.
Why Pilots Care
Course is the foundation of navigation. Wind will push the aircraft off course, so pilots must crab into the wind to keep the actual track aligned with the intended course. Confusing course with heading or track leads to navigation errors.
Intuition Check
Do not read “course” as a class or training program here. In CRS, course means the planned direction of travel over the ground. Also, course is not always the same as the direction the nose points; wind can make those differ.
Example Sentence 1
After takeoff, the pilot turned to intercept a course of 270° direct to the next waypoint.
Example Sentence 2
Wind correction kept the aircraft on the assigned course of 270 degrees magnetic.