Intercepting & Tracking Courses (VOR / LOC / GPS)
Navigating IFR means intercepting a desired course and then tracking it precisely, correcting for wind. Whether the source is a VOR radial, a localizer, or a GPS course, the technique is the same: set the course, choose an intercept angle, turn to capture the needle, then bracket a wind-correction heading to keep it centered.
Step by step
- 1Set the desired course on the CDI/HSI (or load it on the GPS) and confirm the correct navigation source is selected.
- 2Determine which way to turn to intercept (the CDI needle points to the course; fly toward it).
- 3Pick an intercept angle (commonly 20°–45°, larger when far off course) and turn to that intercept heading.
- 4As the CDI needle begins to center, lead the turn onto the course heading.
- 5On course, establish a wind-correction angle that keeps the needle centered — bracket it: note the drift, take out a correction, then refine.
- 6Maintain the corrected heading; re-center with small heading changes whenever the needle starts to drift.
Tips & common errors
- The CDI needle shows where the course is relative to you — turn toward the needle to intercept.
- Bracket the wind: each time the needle drifts, take half the previous correction back until it stays centered.
- Keep needle deflection small (within tolerance); large corrections near a fix cause overshoots.
- Verify the nav source and OBS/course setting — flying the wrong source/course is a classic and dangerous error.
ACS completion standards
The commonly-tested tolerances for this maneuver. Always confirm the current ACS for your certificate.
- Intercept the specified course and track it, keeping the CDI within ¾-scale deflection (often within 1/4 to 3/4 scale).
- Maintain altitude ±100 feet and airspeed ±10 knots while navigating.
- Apply proper wind-correction (bracketing) to stay on course.
FAA source
FAA-S-ACS-8 (Instrument Rating ACS), Task: Intercepting and Tracking Navigational Systems; Instrument Flying Handbook FAA-H-8083-15, Chapters 9 & 16.
This is an original, plain-English study summary grounded in the public-domain FAA Airman Certification Standards and FAA handbooks cited above. It is a study aid, not flight instruction, and not a substitute for the official ACS, the handbooks, your aircraft’s POH/AFM, or a certificated flight instructor.
Related maneuvers
- Attitude Instrument Flying & the Instrument ScanAttitude instrument flying is the foundation of all instrument flight: you control the airplane by interpreting the instruments instead of looking outside. You set an attitude on the attitude indicator (control), verify the result on the other instruments (performance), and trim. A disciplined cross-check (scan) prevents fixation and keeps every parameter in tolerance.
- Constant-Airspeed Climbs & DescentsOn instruments you frequently change altitude at a constant airspeed. You set a pitch and power for the desired airspeed, hold it with the scan, and lead the level-off so you roll out exactly on the new altitude and back at cruise airspeed.
- Rate Climbs & Descents (Constant Vertical Speed)Sometimes you must hold a specific vertical speed (for example to meet a crossing restriction or to fly a constant descent rate on an approach). You adjust pitch and power to pin the VSI to a target rate while still controlling airspeed, then lead the level-off.
- Steep Turns (Instrument)On instruments, a steep turn (typically a sustained 45° bank) tests your cross-check and control as the higher bank increases the back-pressure and power needed to hold altitude. With no outside horizon, you must control everything by the attitude indicator and supporting instruments.
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