Headings are measured from onboard a traveling vehicle or object (e.g. from the cockpit of an aircraft or the bridge of a ship at sea). An azimuth is a bearing, more precisely a compass bearing from a specific point of observation like a radar station.

What is a azimuth heading?

Azimuth has also been more generally defined as a horizontal angle measured clockwise from any fixed reference plane or easily established base direction line. Today, the reference plane for an azimuth is typically true north, measured as a 0° azimuth, though other angular units (grad, mil) can be used.

What is the difference between bearing and heading?

Heading is the direction the aircraft is pointing. The aircraft may be drifting a little or a lot due to a crosswind. Bearing is the angle in degrees (clockwise) between North and the direction to the destination or nav aid.