True course is the direction you want to fly measured from true north, and ForeFlight shows it to you in the course line tool

When you draw a course line on the ForeFlight map, the app displays both magnetic course and true course. True course appears in the course line information box — it's the number that does not account for magnetic variation. On most ForeFlight versions, tap or click the course line you've drawn, and a panel will open showing true course alongside magnetic course, distance, and time estimates.

The exact location of this information depends on your device. On iPad, the course line details appear in a sidebar. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen after selecting the course line. On the web version, the course information displays in a panel on the right side of the map.

True course matters because it's what you plot on paper charts and what you use for flight planning calculations. Magnetic course — the direction your compass actually points — changes based on your location due to magnetic variation. ForeFlight handles this conversion automatically, but you need to know which number is which.

Key Takeaways

  • Draw a course line on the ForeFlight map by tapping and dragging from your departure point to your destination.
  • The course line information panel shows both true course and magnetic course; true course is the number not affected by magnetic variation.
  • On iPad the details appear in a sidebar; on iPhone swipe up from the bottom; on web look at the right panel.
  • True course is what you use for flight planning and chart work, while magnetic course is what your compass reads in flight.

Drawing a course line to see true course

Start by opening your flight plan or the map view in ForeFlight. Locate your departure airport and your destination. On iPad or web, press and hold your finger or click at your departure point, then drag to your destination. On iPhone, use a two-finger tap and drag motion to create the line.

ForeFlight will draw a line between the two points and when ready calculate the distance and course. The line itself is usually blue or magenta depending on your map settings. Once the line is drawn, tap or click directly on it to open the course information panel.

If you need to adjust the line, you can drag either endpoint to a new location. ForeFlight recalculates true course and magnetic course when ready as you move the endpoints. This is useful for checking different routes or accounting for wind corrections.

Reading the course line information panel

When you select a course line, ForeFlight displays a box or panel with several pieces of information. The true course number is listed separately from the magnetic course. True course will be labeled as "TC" or "True Course" depending on your ForeFlight version. Magnetic course is labeled "MC" or "Magnetic Course."

The panel also shows distance in nautical miles, estimated time en route based on your aircraft's cruise speed, and sometimes fuel burn estimates. The true course number is always a three-digit heading between 001 and 360 degrees. If you see a number like 045, that means true north is 45 degrees to your right (northeast).

On older ForeFlight versions or certain map views, you may need to tap a small information icon next to the course line to expand the full details. If the panel does not appear, make sure you are tapping directly on the blue or magenta line itself, not on empty map space nearby.

Understanding the difference between true and magnetic course

True course is measured from true north, which is the actual geographic North Pole. Magnetic course is measured from magnetic north, which is where your compass needle points. The difference between them is called magnetic variation, and it changes depending on where you are on Earth.

In the continental United States, magnetic variation ranges from about 20 degrees west on the East Coast to 20 degrees east on the West Coast. This means a true course of 090 degrees (due east) might be a magnetic course of 070 degrees in Maine or 110 degrees in Washington state. ForeFlight calculates this for you automatically based on your location.

For flight planning and chart work, you always start with true course because charts are printed with true north at the top. Once you have your true course, you then convert it to magnetic course to use in the airplane. ForeFlight does this conversion, but understanding which number is which prevents navigation errors.

Checking true course for multiple waypoints

If your flight has multiple legs, you can draw separate course lines for each segment. Draw a line from your departure airport to your first waypoint, note the true course, then draw another line from that waypoint to your next destination. ForeFlight treats each line independently and calculates true course for each one.

Alternatively, if you have already built a flight plan in ForeFlight's flight plan tool, the app shows true course and magnetic course for each leg automatically. Open your flight plan, and the course information for each segment appears in the flight plan summary. This is faster than drawing individual course lines if you have a complex route with many waypoints.

When comparing multiple routes to the same destination, drawing course lines for each option lets you see which route has the most favorable true course relative to the wind. A route with a true course of 180 degrees might be easier to fly if the wind is coming from the north, even if it's slightly longer than an alternative route.

Troubleshooting when true course does not appear

If you draw a course line and the information panel does not show, make sure you are using the correct gesture for your device. On iPad, press and hold, then drag. On iPhone, use two fingers. On web, click and drag with your mouse. A single tap or swipe without dragging will not create a course line.

If the panel appears but shows only magnetic course, check your ForeFlight settings. Some older versions or certain map configurations hide true course by default. Go to Settings, then Map Display or Course Line Options, and look for a toggle to show true course. Most current versions show both by default.

If the course line disappears when you release it, you may have accidentally created it in a mode that does not save course lines. Make sure you are in the map view or flight plan view, not in a different tool like weather or traffic. Course lines created in the main map view persist until you delete them.

Using true course for flight planning calculations

Once you have your true course from ForeFlight, use it as the starting point for wind correction calculations. True course plus or minus wind correction angle gives you magnetic heading, which is what you set on your compass in the airplane. ForeFlight can do these calculations for you if you enter wind information into your flight plan.

Write down the true course number before you fly. Many pilots note it on their paper flight plan or in their flight log. This number does not change based on wind or magnetic variation — it is fixed between two points on Earth. Magnetic heading changes based on wind, but true course stays the same.

If you are planning a long cross-country flight, check true course for each leg and note any significant changes in direction. A course that swings from 090 degrees to 270 degrees (a 180-degree turn) requires different wind corrections on each leg, even if the wind direction stays the same. ForeFlight shows this clearly when you draw separate course lines for each segment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does ForeFlight show both true course and magnetic course?

True course is what you use for flight planning and chart work because charts are oriented to true north. Magnetic course is what your compass actually reads in the airplane. ForeFlight shows both so you have the correct number for each task — true course for planning, magnetic course for flying.

Can I change the units or format of the true course display?

True course is always shown in degrees from 001 to 360, and ForeFlight does not offer alternative formats. You can adjust other course line settings like color or line thickness in the map display options, but the true course number itself displays in standard aviation format.

Does true course change if I move the course line endpoints?

Yes. True course is calculated based on the exact positions of your two endpoints. If you drag either endpoint to a new location, ForeFlight recalculates true course when ready. This is why you can use course lines to explore different routes and see how the heading changes.

What if my true course is a number like 359 or 001?

A true course of 359 degrees means you are flying almost due north, just one degree west of true north. A true course of 001 means you are flying almost due north, just one degree east of true north. Both are normal and represent headings very close to true north. ForeFlight displays these as three-digit numbers for consistency.

Can I see true course without drawing a course line?

If you have already built a flight plan in ForeFlight, the true course for each leg appears in the flight plan summary without needing to draw separate course lines. Open your flight plan and look at the leg information. This is faster than drawing individual lines if you have multiple waypoints.