back course

noun

The approach course formed by the rear lobe of the signal pattern of a localizer antenna array (the portion of the localizer signal emitted from the rear face of the antenna array), oriented in the reciprocal direction to the primary approach course (i.e., the back course - if a usable back course exists at all - will be rotated 180° from the primary course); not produced in usable form by all localizers, with newer equipment radiating very little signal into the rear and side lobes (not enough to allow for a back-course approach).

Similar
back beam
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Meanings

nounback course (plural back courses)

plural back courses

  1. aeronauticsThe approach course formed by the rear lobe of the signal pattern of a localizer antenna array (the portion of the localizer signal emitted from the rear face of the antenna array), oriented in the reciprocal direction to the primary approach course (i.e., the back course - if a usable back course exists at all - will be rotated 180° from the primary course); not produced in usable form by all localizers, with newer equipment radiating very little signal into the rear and side lobes (not enough to allow for a back-course approach).

    Synonyms: back beam

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe approach course formed by the rear lobe of the signal pattern of a localizer antenna array (the portion of the localizer signal emitted from the rear face of the antenna array), oriented in the reciprocal direction to the primary approach course (i.e., the back course - if a usable back course exists at all - will be rotated 180° from the primary course); not produced in usable form by all localizers, with newer equipment radiating very little signal into the rear and side lobes (not enough to allow for a back-course approach).

Similar
back beam
Also see
back beam
Cite this entry
APA

back course. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/back%20course

MLA

“back course.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/back%20course. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “back course,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/back%20course.

Source: back course on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.