Which factor is used to obtain the actual track after converting to true course?

Which factor is used to obtain the actual track after converting to true course?

• A. Wind.
• B. Altitude.
• C. Temperature.
• D. Humidity.

Answer: (A)

Actual track is the path you actually fly over the ground. Once you convert a course to true course, the thing that shifts that path is wind. The air moves relative to the ground, so a wind blowing across your intended route pushes your aircraft sideways, creating drift. The wind’s speed and direction determine how much drift you get, and thus what the true ground track ends up being. Temperature, altitude, and humidity affect air density and performance, but they don’t change the ground path as directly as wind does. To obtain the actual track, you account for wind by estimating the drift it causes and adjusting your heading accordingly.

Actual track is the path you actually fly over the ground. Once you convert a course to true course, the thing that shifts that path is wind. The air moves relative to the ground, so a wind blowing across your intended route pushes your aircraft sideways, creating drift. The wind’s speed and direction determine how much drift you get, and thus what the true ground track ends up being. Temperature, altitude, and humidity affect air density and performance, but they don’t change the ground path as directly as wind does. To obtain the actual track, you account for wind by estimating the drift it causes and adjusting your heading accordingly.