Which term refers to navigational guidance by assigning headings?

• A. Vectoring
• B. Vector
• C. VEF
• D. Velocity

Answer: (A)

Guiding an aircraft by issuing headings is vectoring. This term describes the ATC practice of directing you to fly specific compass headings to steer you along a route, intercept a course, or line up for an approach. When you’re vectored, you don’t follow a fixed preplanned course; you follow the headings ATC gives you to position you where you need to be. This is why vectoring is the right choice: it conveys the active process of navigation guidance through headings.

A vector is simply a direction and magnitude, like an arrow, which is related but does not describe the act of commanding a pilot to fly a certain heading. Velocity combines speed and direction, but it’s about motion, not the control instruction being issued. VEF isn’t a standard term used for this navigational guidance by headings.