Definition
Cockpit instruments that display the airplane's current heading — the direction the nose is pointing — referenced to a compass card numbered in degrees from 000 to 359, with 360 representing magnetic north. Traditional heading indicators are gyroscopic instruments that must be set against the magnetic compass before flight and rechecked periodically because they drift over time. Modern electronic versions use solid-state sensors and remain aligned automatically.
Plain English
The instruments in the cockpit that show which direction the airplane's nose is pointing, shown in degrees around a circle.
Context Anchor
Seen during cockpit instrument checks before takeoff, especially when confirming that the airplane’s direction display matches the runway or compass.
Derivation
Heading' comes from the direction a vessel's head (front) is pointed — a term carried over from sailing. An 'indicator' simply shows or points out information. Together: the instrument that shows where the nose is pointed.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate heading information prevents runway incursions, supports precise navigation, and reduces the risk of spatial disorientation during takeoff and departure.
Intuition Check
Heading does not mean the exact path the airplane is moving over the ground. It means the direction the nose is pointed; wind can make the airplane move slightly sideways over the ground.
Example Sentence 1
Lined up on runway 27, the pilot confirmed the heading indicator read approximately 270 degrees before applying takeoff power.
Example Sentence 2
After engine start the heading indicators were aligned to the current magnetic heading using the adjustment knob.