What term describes the course flown parallel to the landing runway, in the same direction as the intended landing direction?

The term that describes the course flown parallel to the landing runway, in the same direction as the intended landing direction is known as the downwind leg. This leg is a crucial segment of the traffic pattern for an aircraft preparing to land.

On the downwind leg, the aircraft maintains a parallel path to the runway, allowing the pilot to prepare for the turn to the final approach. During this phase, pilots are able to conduct checks and configure the aircraft for landing, such as lowering landing gear and setting flaps, while also monitoring traffic in the pattern. This helps facilitate a safe and efficient landing approach, as the pilot can maintain visual contact with both the runway and other aircraft in the vicinity.

The other options refer to different legs of the traffic pattern: the final approach leg is the segment where the aircraft aligns directly with the runway for landing, the base leg is the turn made to align with the runway after the downwind leg, and the upwind leg is the segment flown directly after takeoff, moving away from the runway. Each of these legs has a specific function in the overall process of landing and takeoff, making it important to understand the role of the downwind leg in that context.