How To Find True Course On ForeFlight: A Pilot's Definitive Navigation Guide

Finding true course on ForeFlight requires understanding the critical distinction between True Heading, Magnetic Heading, True Course, and Magnetic Course based on current aeronautical data. By correctly configuring your map settings, utilizing the route rubber-banding feature, and factoring in true wind corrections, you can accurately plan and execute cross-country flights using your iPad or iPhone.

Pre-Operation & Planning Checklist

Accurate flight planning in ForeFlight begins with proper device configuration and a firm grasp of aviation navigation principles. Because the earth curves and magnetic variation shifts continuously across different geographic regions, your electronic flight bag (EFB) must be configured to display the correct reference frames for your operational requirements.

• Essential Gear and Software:
  
  
  • iPad or iPhone running the latest version of ForeFlight Mobile (Performance Plus or Pro tier recommended for advanced wind-vector modeling).
  • Active subscription providing current FAA or Jeppesen VFR/IFR chart data, terrain layers, and real-time internet or ADS-B weather.
  • Stylus (optional) for precise waypoint placement and map annotations during pre-flight briefings.
• Prerequisite Knowledge and Standards:
  
  
  • Working knowledge of the navigation triangle (True Course, True Heading, Wind Correction Angle, True Airspeed, and Ground Speed).
  • Understanding of Isogonic lines and current magnetic variation (WMM - World Magnetic Model) specific to your route of flight.
  • Adherence to FAA AC 60-22 or international equivalent standards regarding electronic flight bag operational use.
• Benchmarks:
  
  
  • Estimated setup and flight plan route building time: 5 to 10 minutes per flight leg.
  • Target navigation accuracy threshold: Route calculations matching official National Ocean Service (NOS) sectional chart measurements within plus or minus 0.5 degrees.

Step-by-Step Navigation Workflow

Step 1: Configure Map Settings for True Versus Magnetic North

Before drawing any lines on your ForeFlight map, you must verify how the application displays your headings and courses. By default, many aviation apps display magnetic headings to match your cockpit magnetic compass and directional gyro, but true course can be isolated for specific flight planning needs.

1. Open ForeFlight Mobile and navigate to the Maps view.
2. Tap the gear icon in the top toolbar to open the Maps Settings menu.
3. Locate the setting labeled True North or North Up / Track Up preferences.
4. Ensure your route planning profile is set to display magnetic variation automatically, or lock your display to True North if your specific mission profile (such as high-latitude polar operations) requires uncorrected geodetic headings.

Pro-Tip: You can toggle your route information drawer to display both magnetic and true values simultaneously by reviewing the detailed Leg-by-Leg nav log rather than relying solely on the moving map overlay.

Step 2: Build the Flight Plan Route Leg

Creating a precise flight plan allows ForeFlight to calculate the exact geometry between your departure airport, waypoints, and destination.

1. Tap the Flights tab at the bottom of the screen or use the Routes drawer directly inside the Maps view.
2. Enter your departure identifier, route string (incorporating Victor airways, direct waypoints, or custom lat/long coordinates), and destination identifier in the entry box.
3. Tap Routes and then Send to Map to render the flight plan visually across your sectional or IFR enroute charts.
4. Zoom in on individual segments to inspect airspace boundaries, obstacle clearances, and populated waypoints along your intended path of flight.

Step 3: Extract True Course from the Route Leg-by-Leg Nav Log

Once your route is active on the map, ForeFlight automatically generates a comprehensive navigation log that breaks down every single leg of the journey into precise mathematical vectors.

1. Tap the up-arrow or expand button at the bottom of the route menu on the Maps view to open the Flight Plan drawer.
2. Tap the NavLog tab located within this drawer to open the tabular route breakdown.
3. Locate the column designated as TC, which stands for True Course.
4. Read the three-digit numerical value listed under the TC column for your specific leg. This number represents the intended path of the aircraft over the ground relative to True North, unadjusted for wind.

Warning: Do not confuse TC (True Course) with MC (Magnetic Course) or MH (Magnetic Heading). Using True Course as a compass steering reference in areas of high magnetic variance will cause significant navigational drift.

Step 4: Utilize the Route Measure Tool for Ad-Hoc True Courses

If you need to find the true course of an off-route shortcut, a diversion, or an unmapped flight segment on the fly, you can use ForeFlight's built-in measurement tool.

1. Tap with two fingers simultaneously on your starting point on the map, and drag your second finger to your ending point.
2. A geodesic measurement line will appear, displaying the direct distance, magnetic heading, and true course between the two touched points.
3. Review the data popup box attached to the measurement line to record the precise True Course value displayed.
4. Tap anywhere else on the map to dismiss the measurement line once your data is recorded in your kneeboard notes.

Technical Parameters and Navigation Methods

To ensure absolute precision when translating ForeFlight data into actual flight execution, pilots must understand how the application handles environmental variables compared to traditional manual E6B calculations.

Common ForeFlight Navigation Failures & Field Fixes

Even experienced pilots occasionally encounter discrepancies between digital flight planning outputs and actual airborne performance. Recognizing these failure points prevents severe off-course deviations.

• Discrepancy Between ForeFlight NavLog TC and Cockpit Compass
  
  
  • Root Cause: Failing to account for local magnetic variation (isogonic lines) or applying variation in the wrong direction (adding West variation instead of subtracting).
  • Actionable Fix: Verify that your aircraft's heading indicator is slaved or calibrated to the magnetic compass, and ensure your mental math correctly applies the formula: True ± Variation = Magnetic.
• Incorrect Wind Vector Application
  
  
  • Root Cause: ForeFlight is utilizing stale internet weather data or an incorrect cruising altitude/airspeed profile in the Flight Plan builder.
  • Actionable Fix: Update your wind profile by tapping "Send to Flights," updating your true airspeed (TAS) and altitude parameters, and recalculating the NavLog to pull fresh ADS-B or internet prognostic winds aloft.
• Great Circle Route Disorientation on Long Legs
  
  
  • Root Cause: ForeFlight automatically calculates routes using great-circle tracks, meaning your True Course continuously shifts over long distances, confusing pilots expecting a constant rhumb-line heading.
  • Actionable Fix: Break long oceanic or cross-country flights into shorter waypoints, or check the individual leg-by-leg True Courses in the NavLog to manually steer successive course changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I switch ForeFlight from magnetic headings to true headings?

ForeFlight primarily uses magnetic headings to align with standard aviation practices and cockpit instruments. While you cannot globally force every moving map element to display True North without affecting local chart readability, you can view exact True Course figures at any time by opening the NavLog tab inside your active flight plan drawer.

Why does my True Course change slightly from the start of a long leg to the end?

ForeFlight calculates routes along great-circle paths, which represent the shortest distance between two points on a sphere. Because meridians converge at the poles, a great-circle route constantly changes its angle relative to True North as you progress along the flight path.

Can I use ForeFlight to calculate wind correction angles automatically?

Yes, by entering your True Airspeed (TAS) and cruising altitude into the Flights planning tab, ForeFlight automatically calculates the Wind Correction Angle (WCA) and provides both your True Heading and Ground Speed for every leg of the trip.

What is the difference between track (TR) and true course (TC) in ForeFlight?

True Course (TC) is your planned, intended path over the ground relative to True North before taking winds into account. Track (TR), often displayed as your ground track vector line on the moving map, is your actual path over the earth resulting from the combined vectors of your heading and real-time wind drift.

Master precision flight planning today by integrating advanced ForeFlight routing tools into your pre-flight workflow. Download our complete aviation checklist bundle to streamline your next cross-country adventure.