flight path

Meaning

A flight path is the specific route or course that an aircraft follows through the air from its departure airport to its destination. It is carefully planned to avoid bad weather, turbulence, or restricted airspace.

Examples

• The pilot had to alter the flight path to avoid a severe thunderstorm over the mountains.

  The pilot had to alter the flight path to avoid a severe thunderstorm over the mountains.

• You can track our real-time flight path on the screen in front of your seat.

  You can track our real-time flight path on the screen in front of your seat.

• Living directly under a major flight path can be quite noisy because of the low-flying planes.

  Living directly under a major flight path can be quite noisy because of the low-flying planes.

• Air traffic control monitored the flight path to ensure the plane kept a safe distance from others.

  Air traffic control monitored the flight path to ensure the plane kept a safe distance from others.

• The airline chose a more fuel-efficient flight path for the transatlantic journey.

  The airline chose a more fuel-efficient flight path for the transatlantic journey.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The plane changed its flight road to avoid the storm.

  ✓ The plane changed its flight path to avoid the storm.

  Planes travel on a 'flight path' or 'flight route', never a 'flight road' or 'flight street'.

• ✗ We could see the flight path of the birds flying south.

  ✓ We could see the flight pattern of the birds flying south.

  While birds fly, 'flight path' is predominantly used as a technical aviation term for aircraft routes. For animals, 'flight pattern' or 'migration route' is more natural.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Due to volcanic ash, several airlines had to divert their usual ___.

  💡 The route an airplane takes.

  Show answer

  flight path

• The interactive map shows our current altitude and ___.

  💡 The planned course of the plane.

  Show answer

  flight path