Definition
The line, course, or track along which an aircraft is flying or is intended to be flown.
Plain English
The path the aircraft is actually following through the air, or the path it has been planned to follow.
Context Anchor
Used when describing an aircraft’s movement during takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, approach, landing, and traffic avoidance.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate management of the flight path ensures safe separation from terrain and traffic, compliance with assigned routes or procedures, and successful execution of takeoffs, enroute segments, and landings.
Grounding Statement
Picture a visible line trailing behind and ahead of the aircraft in the sky; that line shows its flight path.
Intuition Check
Flight path does not simply mean where the nose is pointed. An aircraft can be pointed one way while wind or control inputs make its actual path through the air different.
Example Sentence 1
After takeoff, the pilot maintained the published flight path to ensure terrain clearance on the departure.
Example Sentence 2
Strong crosswinds caused the actual flight path to drift left of the runway centerline.