True heading is the true course corrected for the effects of what?

True heading refers to the actual direction a craft is facing relative to true north, taking into account the influence of various factors during flight. When corrected for the effects of wind, true heading is derived by adjusting the aircraft's intended flight path to ensure it stays on course. Wind can significantly affect an aircraft's ground track; for example, a crosswind can push an aircraft off its intended flight path. Therefore, pilots must adjust their heading to compensate for wind drift, which allows them to maintain their desired course over the ground.

While altitude, magnetic variation, and speed do play roles in navigation, they do not directly relate to the adjustment of true heading for the specific effect of wind on the flight path. Altitude provides information about the vertical position of an aircraft but does not influence its horizontal bearing directly. Magnetic variation relates to the difference between true north and magnetic north but is not a factor in the calculation of true heading when it pertains to wind corrections. Speed affects how quickly an aircraft travels but does not change the direction in which it must travel to correct for wind drift.