Definition
An adjustment of the airplane's heading into the wind to offset sideways displacement caused by a crosswind, so the airplane tracks the intended ground path rather than being blown off course.
Plain English
When wind is pushing the airplane sideways, the pilot points the nose slightly into the wind to cancel out the push and keep the airplane moving along the desired line over the ground.
Context Anchor
Used during takeoff and initial climb, especially when wind is blowing from one side of the runway.
Derivation
Drift comes from the Old English drīfan, 'to drive or be driven.' Here it refers to the airplane being driven sideways by the wind. Correction simply means the adjustment made to fix it.
Why Pilots Care
Without it the airplane will not follow the intended route, resulting in navigational error or arrival at the wrong point.
Grounding Statement
If the wind is pushing the airplane left after liftoff, drift correction means pointing slightly into that wind so the airplane’s path over the ground stays straight ahead.
Intuition Check
Drift correction does not mean fixing a mechanical problem. It means adjusting where the airplane is pointed so wind does not carry its ground path away from where the pilot intends to go.
Example Sentence 1
After lift-off, the pilot applied drift correction by turning slightly into the wind to keep the climb aligned with the runway centerline.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot calculated the required drift correction before takeoff so the airplane would track directly to the first checkpoint.