Definition
The standard rate of turn used in instrument flying, in which the airplane changes heading at three degrees of azimuth every second. A turn at this rate completes 360° of heading change in two minutes, and is therefore also called a standard-rate turn or two-minute turn.
Plain English
A turn slow enough that the heading only changes by three degrees each second. At that pace, the airplane takes two minutes to turn all the way around.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when controlling bank to make timed turns or standard-rate turns without outside visual references.
Why Pilots Care
Provides a predictable, timed turn rate for instrument procedures such as holding patterns and procedure turns without visual references.
Grounding Statement
If you hold 3° per second for 10 seconds, the aircraft turns about 30 degrees.
Intuition Check
3° per second is not a 3-degree bank angle. It describes how fast the airplane is turning, not how far the wings are tilted.
Example Sentence 1
She rolled into a left turn at 3° per second and began timing the inbound leg of the holding pattern.
Example Sentence 2
Maintain 3° per second through the 180-degree turn so the holding pattern times out correctly.