Final answer:
The term for the actual position of an aircraft affected by wind drift is its 'ground track'. Wind drift influences the plane's speed and direction, and pilots must correct their course by adjusting the wind correction angle.
Step-by-step explanation:
The actual position of the aircraft that has been affected by wind drift is referred to as its ground track or track over the ground. The wind can have a significant effect on the total velocity of the plane; this includes both speed and direction. For instance, if a plane is heading due north at 45.0 m/s relative to the air mass, but experiences wind that causes a change in velocity relative to the ground to 38.0 m/s in a direction 20.0° west of north, then the wind causes the plane to drift. To correct for this, pilots must adjust their heading to counteract the wind's influence, a process known as wind correction angle or crab angle to ensure the plane moves along the intended path.
A strategic approach, which can be visualized through Figure 3.45, involves constructing a vector equation considering the velocity of the plane with respect to the ground, the velocity of the plane with respect to the air, and the velocity of the air with respect to the ground. Once the pilot knows the velocity of the wind, they can take measures to correct their course.
In the given example, a calculation of wind velocity would reveal how much the wind affects the plane's total velocity and what adjustments the pilot must make to maintain the correct ground track and compensate for wind drift.