Finding True Course in ForeFlight's Course Menu

ForeFlight displays true course when you tap the course indicator on the moving map or in the flight plan details. The app shows magnetic course by default, but you can switch to true course by opening the course information panel and selecting the true course option. This toggle appears in the same menu where you see distance, altitude, and other flight data.

The exact location depends on which view you are using. If you are looking at a flight plan line on the map, tap directly on that line and a data card will appear at the bottom of the screen. If you are reviewing a waypoint or leg in your flight plan, open the flight plan panel on the left side and tap the specific leg—the course information will display in the details section below.

Key Takeaways

  • True course appears in ForeFlight when you tap a course line on the map or select a leg in your flight plan panel.
  • ForeFlight shows magnetic course first by default, and you toggle to true course in the same information card.
  • The course data card displays at the bottom of the screen on the moving map, or in the flight plan details panel on the left.
  • True course and magnetic course differ by the local magnetic variation at your location, which ForeFlight calculates automatically.

Accessing Course Data on the Moving Map

When you are viewing the moving map in ForeFlight, the fastest way to see true course is to tap the blue course line between two waypoints. A small data card will pop up at the bottom of your screen showing distance, magnetic course, and true course. This card stays visible until you tap elsewhere on the map.

If you have already created a flight plan, the course lines are already drawn. straightforward tap any segment and the information appears. If you have not yet created a flight plan and are just exploring routes, you can still tap between any two points on the map and ForeFlight will calculate and display both courses for that line.

Viewing True Course in the Flight Plan Panel

The flight plan panel on the left side of ForeFlight lists every leg of your route. To see the true course for a specific leg, tap that leg in the list. The panel will expand to show detailed information including distance, magnetic course, true course, and estimated time for that segment.

This method is useful when you are building or reviewing a flight plan before takeoff. You can scroll through each leg, check the true course for wind correction calculations, and make changes if needed. The true course value updates automatically if you move a waypoint or add a new one.

Understanding Magnetic Variation in ForeFlight

ForeFlight calculates the difference between true course and magnetic course using the current magnetic variation for your location. Magnetic variation changes depending on where you are flying—it is different in Florida than it is in California. ForeFlight pulls this data from its chart database and applies it automatically.

When you see both true course and magnetic course displayed, the difference between them is the local magnetic variation. If true course is 180 degrees and magnetic course is 185 degrees, the variation at that location is 5 degrees east. You do not need to calculate this yourself—ForeFlight handles it—but understanding the relationship helps you catch data entry errors or unusual readings.

Checking True Course Before Flight

Before you fly, open your flight plan in ForeFlight and review the true course for each leg. This is the course you will use for wind correction calculations and for planning your heading. Tap each leg in the flight plan panel and note the true course value, or take a screenshot of the moving map showing all your course lines.

Many pilots write down the true course for each leg on their paper flight plan or in their notes app. This gives you a reference in the cockpit if you need to verify your heading or recalculate wind correction. ForeFlight will still show the data in flight, but having it written down is a backup if you lose internet connection or need to work quickly.

Troubleshooting When True Course Does Not Appear

If you tap a course line and no data card appears, make sure you are tapping directly on the blue line itself, not on empty map space. The tap target is fairly small, so try tapping closer to the middle of the line. If you are using a flight plan, may support the plan is actually loaded—you should see the waypoints and connecting lines on the map.

If ForeFlight is not showing any course information at all, check that you have a current chart subscription. Outdated or expired charts can cause display issues. You can also try closing and reopening the app, or zooming in on the map to make the course lines larger and easier to tap. If the problem continues, force-close ForeFlight and restart it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between true course and magnetic course?

True course is measured from true north, while magnetic course is measured from magnetic north. The difference between them is magnetic variation, which changes based on your location. ForeFlight shows both values so you can use true course for planning and magnetic course for flying the heading.

Can I change ForeFlight to show only true course?

ForeFlight displays both values together in the course information card, and you cannot hide the magnetic course. However, you can focus on the true course number and ignore the magnetic course if you prefer. Many pilots use true course for all their calculations and only reference magnetic course when setting the heading in the cockpit.

Does ForeFlight update true course if I change my flight plan?

Yes. If you move a waypoint, add a new one, or delete a leg, ForeFlight recalculates the true course for all affected segments when ready. The updated values appear in the flight plan panel and on the moving map as soon as you make the change.

Why does my true course look different on the sectional chart?

ForeFlight calculates true course as a straight line between two points, while a printed sectional chart shows courses measured with a plotter tool. If you are measuring by hand on a chart, small differences in plotter placement or chart orientation can cause slight variations. ForeFlight's calculation is more precise because it uses exact coordinates.