Definition
A heading flown to converge with and join a desired course, such as a VOR radial, airway, or final approach course. The intercept heading is offset from the desired course by an angle large enough to close the distance between the aircraft and the course, but not so large that the aircraft overshoots when it arrives.
Plain English
A heading you fly to cut across and join the course you want to be on. It points you at the course at an angle, so you fly toward it and then turn onto it once you reach it.
Context Anchor
Used during instrument navigation, especially when joining a selected VOR course shown by the navigation indicator.
Derivation
Intercept comes from the Latin intercipere, meaning to seize or catch between. The intercept heading is the heading that lets you catch the course as you fly toward it.
Why Pilots Care
Choosing the right intercept heading prevents overshooting the course and reduces the need for large corrections once established.
Analogy
It is like merging onto a road from an angle. You do not aim straight down the road at first; you angle toward it, meet it, then turn to travel along it.
Intuition Check
Do not assume an intercept heading is the same as the course you want to fly. It is the temporary direction used to reach that course.
Example Sentence 1
ATC instructed the pilot to fly a heading of 040 to intercept the 360 radial inbound to the VOR.
Example Sentence 2
I selected a 45-degree intercept heading so the needle would come alive smoothly without swinging past center.