What represents the intended path of the aircraft over the earth's surface?

The intended path of the aircraft over the earth's surface is represented by the true course. True course is defined as the angle between the north direction and the path over the ground that the aircraft intends to fly, measured in degrees. This path takes into account the actual route the aircraft will follow compared to the earth’s surface.

Track refers to the actual path that the aircraft has flown over the ground, which may differ from the true course due to wind and other factors. Heading is the direction in which the aircraft’s nose is pointing, which can also differ from both track and true course. Ground speed is a measure of how fast the aircraft is moving over the ground, but it does not represent the direction or intended path. For these reasons, true course is the best representation of the intended path of the aircraft over the earth's surface.