Summary

Examples have been given of certain words which seem to be used correctly by navigators where there is any chance of ambiguity. It is suggested that, if these and other terms can be formally denned and agreed by the Institutes of Navigation, bad language will gradually die out and confusion in navigation terminology will be reduced to a minimum. A similar exercise might also be undertaken with regard to abbreviations.

It may be that the British Institute of Navigation working with other English-speaking Institutes of Navigation could make a start by defining certain words in the hope that they will gradually come to be used with a specific meaning. The alternative is a continuation of the present chaos whereby an official body such as the Airlines Electronics Engineering Committee can decide that ‘course’ and ‘track’ have the same meaning and therefore that a direction is a line.

This note is published with the kind permission of Mr. K. Fearnside, Technical Director of Smiths Aviation Division, but is not intended to represent Company views. Mr. M. W. Richey's advice and help is gratefully acknowledged.