Definition
Specific compass headings worked out before flight that, when flown precisely, will produce a desired ground track or intercept a course under known wind conditions. They are calculated in advance rather than determined by reacting to drift in real time.
Plain English
Headings you figure out ahead of time so you can fly them directly when the moment comes, instead of guessing or correcting after the fact.
Context Anchor
Used in instrument flying when controlling bank by deciding in advance what heading to turn to, hold, or use as a correction.
Derivation
“Heading” comes from the idea of the direction the head or front of something is pointed. In aviation, it means the direction the airplane’s nose is pointing, which may not be the same as the exact path over the ground.
Why Pilots Care
Allows accurate track control with minimal additional corrections once the turn is complete.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as “rough ideas about where to go.” In this context, preplanned headings are definite target headings chosen ahead of the maneuver, even though they can be changed if the clearance or situation changes.
Example Sentence 1
She used preplanned headings to enter the holding pattern smoothly, rather than chasing the inbound course after crossing the fix.
Example Sentence 2
Using the preplanned heading kept the airplane on the desired track without further adjustment after rollout.