When crossing a front head on, what must you change to maintain course?

When crossing a front head-on, it's important to understand the concept of wind direction and its impact on aircraft navigation. A front often brings a change in wind direction, and as you approach the front, you may encounter a shift in wind that can push your aircraft off course.

To maintain your intended track over the ground while encountering this change in wind, a correction to your heading is necessary. Heading adjustments are typically made to either the left or the right, depending on the specific wind conditions at that moment. In this scenario, choosing to adjust your heading to the right compensates for drifting caused by the winds typically associated with frontal systems.

Furthermore, altitude adjustments and changes in speed are not primary solutions for course deviation due to wind. While altitude changes can be related to different flying conditions, they do not directly counteract the lateral drift caused by wind when crossing a front. Similarly, changing speed may impact your distance to the next waypoint, but it does not have a significant corrective influence on your heading relative to the shifting winds encountered during frontal transitions. Therefore, adjusting your heading to the right is the most effective way to maintain your course when crossing a front head-on.