A spiral course was a flight path used by Federation starships and runabouts for moving away from or around an object.
In 2266, Captain James T. Kirk ordered navigator Dave Bailey to plot a spiral course away from an alien cube. (TOS: "The Corbomite Maneuver")
In 2373, to get away from Jem'Hadar warships in the Badlands, Michael Eddington plotted a spiral course for his runabout around a plasma filament. This course would dissipate the runabout's warp signature. (DS9: "Blaze of Glory")