Definition
The sideways movement of an aircraft caused by a crosswind component acting on it during flight. The aircraft's actual path over the ground (track) deviates from the direction it is pointed (heading) because the air mass itself is moving across that intended path.
Plain English
When the wind blows from the side, it pushes the aircraft off the line you intended to fly. Even though the nose is pointed where you want to go, the airplane drifts sideways with the moving air, and ends up somewhere different unless you correct for it.
Context Anchor
Pilots encounter wind drift during navigation, ground-reference practice, and approaches when the airplane’s path over the ground does not match where the nose is aimed.
Derivation
From the Old Norse 'drifa', meaning to drive or be driven by a force. Useful here because it captures the key idea: the aircraft is being driven sideways by the air mass, not steering itself off course.
Why Pilots Care
Uncorrected wind drift prevents the aircraft from reaching its planned destination and can create fuel or time shortfalls.
Analogy
Like a boat pointed straight across a river yet being carried downstream by the current.
Grounding Statement
If the airplane is pointed straight ahead but the wind is blowing from the side, the airplane can move forward and sideways at the same time.
Intuition Check
Wind drift does not mean the wind itself is drifting. It means the wind is causing the aircraft’s path over the ground to shift sideways.
Example Sentence 1
On the cross-country leg, the pilot crabbed into the wind to correct for wind drift and stay on the planned course.
Example Sentence 2
Strong wind drift on the return leg required a larger heading change than expected to reach the home airport.