Certified Flight Instructor - Flight Instructor Airplane Practice Exam

What happens to the ground track of the aircraft during a turn?

1. The ground track remains unchanged.

2. The ground track gradually adjusts to match the turn.

3. The ground track can initially lag behind the aircraft heading.

4. The ground track reverses direction unexpectedly.

The correct answer is: The ground track can initially lag behind the aircraft heading.

When an aircraft initiates a turn, the ground track—the actual path the aircraft follows over the Earth—can indeed initially lag behind the aircraft heading. This occurs due to the inertia of the aircraft and the time it takes for the aircraft to change its direction of travel effectively. During the turn, the aircraft is not instantly aligned with its new heading over the ground, resulting in a situation where the heading indicated by the aircraft's instruments may not immediately correspond to the actual ground track. As the aircraft completes the turn, the ground track will gradually shift to follow the new heading as the aircraft continues to maneuver. Understanding this concept is critical for pilots in maintaining awareness of their aircraft's position relative to the ground, especially in situations requiring precise navigation or in flight operations near other air traffic. This phenomenon is particularly important during turns in a crosswind, where the wind can further affect the relationship between the aircraft's heading and its actual ground path.