Definition
An ATC instruction directing the pilot to fly the specific magnetic heading stated, expressed in degrees. The pilot turns in the shorter direction to the assigned heading unless ATC specifies otherwise.
Plain English
When ATC says 'fly heading' followed by a number, they want you to point the airplane's nose in that compass direction and hold it there.
Context Anchor
Heard in air traffic control instructions such as “fly heading zero niner zero.”
Derivation
Degrees' comes from Latin 'gradus' meaning 'a step.' A compass is divided into 360 small 'steps' around a circle, so a heading in degrees tells you exactly which step to point toward.
Why Pilots Care
Precise heading control ensures proper navigation, traffic separation, and compliance with ATC instructions.
Intuition Check
Degrees does not mean temperature or a school qualification here. In a fly-heading instruction, degrees are compass direction numbers.
Example Sentence 1
Tower instructed us to fly heading 270 degrees for traffic, and I turned right to comply.
Example Sentence 2
Maintain heading 180 degrees until cleared for the approach.