Which term describes the line along which an aircraft is flying or intended to be flown?

• A. Flight path
• B. Flight pattern
• C. Flight strip
• D. FMS route

Answer: (A)

The line an aircraft is flying along or is planned to fly is called its flight path. This path represents the trajectory through space—both the horizontal track over the ground and the vertical changes in altitude—that the aircraft follows or intends to follow. It can be actual, reflecting the path flown, or the intended path as planned before and during flight. This distinguishes it from a flight pattern, which is the standard circuit around an airport; a flight strip, which is a data record used by controllers; and an FMS route, which is the specific route loaded into the flight management system.