Definition
The intended track and vertical profile the pilot plans to fly, used as the reference against which actual aircraft position and movement are compared during instrument flight.
Plain English
The path through the sky you mean to fly. It is the line you are trying to follow, both side to side and up and down, so you can tell whether the airplane is on it or drifting off.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when the pilot compares the airplane’s actual movement with the path it should be following.
Why Pilots Care
Maintaining the desired flightpath ensures compliance with ATC clearances and safe separation from terrain and obstacles.
Intuition Check
“Desired” does not mean a casual wish here; it means the selected, assigned, or required path. “Flightpath” is not just where the nose points; it is the path the aircraft actually follows through the air.
Example Sentence 1
He cross-checked the attitude indicator and altimeter to confirm the aircraft was tracking the desired flightpath.
Example Sentence 2
Deviating from the desired flightpath triggered a course correction alert on the GPS.