by definition, heading is always magnetic

By what definition?

I think our "Off Course" warning is ok, because it's not referring to your heading or your track, or how your current aircraft orientation relates to it, but to the fact that your aircraft is nowhere near your journey as a whole.

... and 'track' is the direction the aircraft is actually making good which, like 'course', can be true or magnetic but, by definition, heading is always magnetic. Except in 'nil wind' conditions, 'track' and 'heading' are always different. If you happen to be flying very accurately, then 'track' and 'course' will co-incide, but they are otherwise almost always different.

Mike
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Here is what I've been brought up to use:

Heading is the direction in which the longitudinal axis of your aircraft is pointing.

Course is the direction of the current leg you are following on your route.

Either one can bei true or magnetic.

-- Chris.

The word "course" appears mainly in the mobile ("in flight") documentation, but also on warning screens, in particular in the following documents:

• Getting started http://www.skydemon.aero/inflight/documentation/gettingstarted.htm
  
• Flying a route http://www.skydemon.aero/inflight/documentation/flying.htm
  
• Using the instruments http://www.skydemon.aero/inflight/documentation/instruments.htm
  
• Warnings http://www.skydemon.aero/inflight/documentation/warnings.htm
  

Tim, I found "course" here and there. Let me look into this over the weekend. "Call you back"

It is my understanding that SkyDemon uses Track and Heading. If you can point me to anywhere it says Course, I will address the situation!

Anybody remember CDMVT ?

Course/Deviation/Magnetic/Variation/True.

No mention of heading.

Bennett's 'Complete Air Navigator':

'Course is the direction in which the aircraft's fore and aft line is pointing expressed as degrees (as a three figure group) measured from the True Meridian, Magnetic Meridian, etc. In marine navigation the term 'course steered' has the same meaning, and in American aviation 'heading' is generally used.

I wouldn't argue with Bennett !

Maybe heading could be regarded as an instantaneous figure and course steered an average heading.

The heading can vary a lot in rough weather (at sea or airborne) while attempting to steer a course.

To elaborate on what I posted earlier, see http://www.pprune.org/questions/305415-course-difference-between-us-europe.html
Let's banish the word "course"!