Definition
The published or assigned course flown toward a fix, navaid, or holding point. In holding and instrument approach procedures, the inbound course is the specific track flown toward the holding fix or final approach fix, and it defines the orientation of the holding pattern or approach segment.
Plain English
The line on the chart you fly along on your way toward a specific point. In holding, it's the leg that takes you back to the fix you're holding over.
Context Anchor
Seen on instrument approach charts and in procedure descriptions for holds, course reversals, and holding-in-lieu-of-procedure-turn entries.
Derivation
Inbound' simply means moving toward something, the opposite of outbound. In aviation it specifies the leg flown toward the fix, as opposed to the outbound leg flown away from it.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures proper alignment with the holding pattern or approach course, preventing overshoots or incorrect entries.
Intuition Check
Do not read “inbound” as always meaning “toward the airport.” Here it means toward the named fix or point on the procedure. Also, the inbound course is the intended path over the ground, not always the exact direction the nose points when correcting for wind.
Example Sentence 1
After crossing the fix, the pilot turned outbound for one minute, then turned back to intercept the inbound course at 270 degrees.
Example Sentence 2
Maintaining the inbound course of 090 degrees brought the plane directly to the VOR fix.