Definition
The horizontal direction from an aircraft to a point on the ground, measured clockwise in degrees from magnetic north.
Plain English
The compass direction from where you are to where something is, measured in degrees from magnetic north.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument navigation when a pilot is working with courses, headings, radio navigation indications, or directions to and from fixes.
Derivation
‘Bearing’ comes from the old sense of ‘bearing toward’ something — the direction you would face to look at it. ‘Magnetic’ specifies the reference: the Earth’s magnetic north, the direction the compass needle actually points.
Why Pilots Care
Provides consistent directional references for navigation systems and instruments calibrated to magnetic north, reducing heading errors during flight.
Intuition Check
Do not read bearing here as an aircraft part or as general behavior. In navigation, bearing means direction. Magnetic does not mean the airplane is being pulled by a magnet; it means the direction is measured from magnetic north.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot tuned the NDB and turned to intercept a magnetic bearing of 045° to the station.
Example Sentence 2
Once established on the approach, maintain the published magnetic bearing until the next fix.