Definition
An air traffic control instruction directing the pilot to maintain, after takeoff, the magnetic heading that corresponds to the published centerline direction of the departure runway, without correcting for wind drift.
Plain English
After takeoff, point the nose in the same direction the runway points and keep it there. Don't adjust for the wind pushing you sideways — just hold that heading.
Context Anchor
Seen in departure instructions, clearances from air traffic control, and FAA abbreviation lists; it tells the pilot what direction to hold immediately after takeoff.
Why Pilots Care
Maintains precise track for traffic separation and obstacle clearance until ATC issues a turn or new heading.
Intuition Check
Do not read “fly runway heading” as “stay exactly over the runway centerline.” It means hold the runway’s compass heading; wind may move the aircraft’s path sideways unless air traffic control assigns another heading.
Example Sentence 1
Cleared for takeoff runway 27, fly runway heading, climb and maintain three thousand.
Example Sentence 2
On the missed approach the clearance was fly runway heading and climb to 2000 feet.