After encountering a 20 kt crosswind without making any heading correction, how far off course would an aircraft be after 1 hour of flight?

To determine how far off course the aircraft would be after one hour of flight with a 20 knot crosswind and no heading correction, we can use the concept of groundspeed and drift due to wind. A 20 knot crosswind means that for every hour of flight, the wind will push the aircraft 20 nautical miles sideways from its intended flight path if no directional adjustments are made.

In this scenario, the aircraft is flying straight ahead without compensating for the wind. Therefore, in the span of one hour, the aircraft will drift 20 nautical miles off its intended course due to the constant 20 knot wind pushing it sideways. This quantifies the drift effectively, leading to the conclusion that the correct answer is indeed 20 nautical miles.

Understanding this concept is critical in air traffic control, as it affects flight path planning and navigation to ensure aircraft maintain their intended course and manage wind effects appropriately.