True Course is defined as the bearing measured relative to which reference?

• A. The bearing relative to magnetic north
• B. The heading relative to true north
• C. The track relative to true north
• D. The bearing relative to true north

Answer: (D)

True course is the direction you intend to fly, measured as a bearing relative to true north—the geographic north pole. This means you chart a line from your starting point to your destination and express its angle clockwise from true north; that angle is the true course. Wind and drift can shift your actual path over the ground (the track), but the reference for true course remains true north. If you used magnetic north, you’d be talking about magnetic bearings or magnetic course, not true course.