How should a pilot react if the aircraft is not maintaining the desired track?

When an aircraft is not maintaining the desired track, adjusting the heading and trim is the most effective and appropriate response. This action allows the pilot to correct the flight path while maintaining control of the aircraft. By adjusting the heading, the pilot can realign the aircraft with the intended course, and using trim helps relieve control pressures, allowing for a more stable and comfortable flight.

Increasing power and maintaining attitude might not directly address the tracking issue, as it could exacerbate deviations instead of correcting them. Immediate descent is not a typical or safe reaction to a tracking issue unless there’s an emergency; it is critical to maintain altitude while resolving navigation errors. Turning back towards the original track is an option, but without adjusting the heading and trim first, the aircraft may simply continue to drift off course even after the maneuver. Thus, adjusting heading and trim provides a balanced and systematic way to correct the aircraft's trajectory.