Definition
The published ground track an aircraft must fly during the final segment of a Precision Approach Radar (PAR) approach, extending from the point where the controller takes radar control of the aircraft to the runway. The controller monitors the aircraft's position relative to this course on a radar display and issues heading corrections to keep the aircraft aligned, while also providing glidepath guidance.
Plain English
The exact line over the ground that an aircraft is supposed to follow toward the runway when a radar controller is guiding the approach. The controller watches the aircraft on radar and tells the pilot when to turn slightly left or right to stay on this line.
Context Anchor
You encounter this term during instrument approach training, especially when learning radar approaches where the controller talks the pilot down toward the runway.
Derivation
PAR stands for Precision Approach Radar. 'Final approach' refers to the last segment of an approach before landing. 'Course' comes from Latin cursus meaning 'a running' or 'path' -- here it means the specific track the aircraft is meant to fly.
Why Pilots Care
On a PAR approach, the controller's instructions replace the pilot's own lateral and vertical guidance instruments. Knowing that the final approach course is a defined, published track -- not a heading the controller invents -- helps the pilot understand what the corrections are aiming for and why precise, prompt response to instructions matters.
Intuition Check
Do not read “course” here as a training course or lesson. In this term, “course” means the intended path over the ground that the aircraft should follow toward the runway.
Example Sentence 1
The controller advised the pilot they were slightly right of the PAR final approach course and issued a two-degree left correction.
Example Sentence 2
At decision height the aircraft was still centered on the PAR final approach course and cleared to land.