1 in 60 Rule Calculator – Off-Course Correction
This 1 in 60 rule calculator works out track error, closing angle and the heading change needed to regain track or fly direct to your destination when you find yourself off course.
The 1 in 60 rule is accurate to within about a degree for angles up to roughly 20°. The exact trigonometric angles are shown for comparison.
For training and general informational use. Navigate with current charts and approved navigation equipment.
Correct back to track with the 1 in 60 rule
On a VFR navigation exercise you pinpoint your position and find you are a few miles off the planned track. The 1 in 60 rule turns that into heading corrections you can work out in your head: one mile off track after sixty miles flown means a one-degree track error. This calculator does the sums and shows both standard corrections: regain the planned track, or turn to fly direct to the destination.
How to use it
- Enter the distance flown since your last known position (usually the departure point or a fix).
- Enter how far you are off track and on which side.
- Enter the distance remaining to the destination or next turning point.
- Calculate to see the track error, the closing angle and the heading change for each method.
Method and calculation
Track error (°) = distance off track ÷ distance flown × 60. Closing angle (°) = distance off track ÷ distance to go × 60. To fly direct to the destination, alter heading by track error + closing angle towards the planned track. To regain the track at the same rate you drifted off, alter by double the track error, then take off the track error once back on track.
Worked example and practical notes
After 30 NM you are 3 NM right of track with 45 NM to go. Track error = 3 ÷ 30 × 60 = 6°. Closing angle = 3 ÷ 45 × 60 = 4°. Turn 10° left to head directly for the destination.
Accuracy and practical tips
Mark 10° drift lines on your chart either side of the track before the flight so you can read the track error by eye. Correct early: small errors found in the first third of a leg are easiest to fix. The method assumes the wind stays the same for the rest of the leg.
Standard dead-reckoning technique taught in ICAO-based PPL navigation syllabi and the UK CAA and FAA training material, including the FAA Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Read the guide: The 1 in 60 Rule Explained for VFR Navigation
Frequently asked questions
Why does the 1 in 60 rule work?
One radian is about 57.3°, close to 60. For small angles, the angle in radians is roughly the distance off divided by the distance along, so multiplying by about 60 gives degrees.
Which way do I turn?
Towards the planned track: left if you are right of track, right if you are left of track.
How accurate is it?
Within about a degree up to 20°. At larger angles it overstates the correction, which errs towards the track.
Can I use it for descent planning?
Yes. A 3° glidepath loses about 300 ft per NM, because 3 ÷ 60 × 6,076 ft is roughly 300 ft.