Definition
The system used in aviation to express direction as a numerical value in degrees on a 360-degree circle, measured clockwise from a north reference. North is 000°, east is 090°, south is 180°, and west is 270°. Direction may be referenced to true north (the geographic pole) or magnetic north (the pole the compass points to), and the chosen reference must always be specified.
Plain English
A way of describing which way something is pointing or moving by giving it a number from 0 to 360, going around like a clock face starting from north.
Context Anchor
Seen in navigation, chart reading, compass use, and route planning when a pilot needs to describe or follow a direction precisely.
Derivation
Direction comes from a Latin word meaning “to guide in a straight line.” That helps here because aviation direction is about the exact line something points or travels along, not just a general idea of where something is.
Why Pilots Care
Correct direction measurement keeps the aircraft on the intended path and prevents navigation errors that could compromise safety or airspace compliance.
Analogy
Think of a clock face with 360 tiny minute marks instead of 12 hour marks. Twelve o'clock is north, three o'clock is east, six o'clock is south, nine o'clock is west — and every direction has its own number.
Grounding Statement
Picture facing north, then turning clockwise until you face the way you want to go; the amount you turned is the measured direction.
Intuition Check
Direction here does not mean a rough idea like “over there” or “toward the airport.” In aviation navigation, it means a measured number from a stated north reference.
Example Sentence 1
The chapter on Measurement of Direction explains why every runway, heading, and wind report is given as a number between 000 and 360 degrees.
Example Sentence 2
The chart showed the VOR radial as the measurement of direction from the station outward.