Definition
A bank of thirty degrees from wings-level, used as the standard reference angle for holding pattern entries and many instrument maneuvers. In a holding pattern entry, the aircraft is rolled into a 30° bank to turn onto the appropriate entry leg or back to the inbound course.
Plain English
Tilting the wings thirty degrees to the side to make a turn. It is the standard amount of bank used when entering a holding pattern.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying and holding entry procedures when describing how to make a controlled turn.
Derivation
In aviation, “bank” means to tilt the airplane sideways in a turn. The idea is similar to a banked road curve, where the surface is sloped to help a vehicle turn smoothly.
Why Pilots Care
Provides a consistent, moderate turn rate without excessive load factor or risk of disorientation in IMC.
Analogy
Think of a road curve that is tilted sideways instead of flat. A 30° bank angle is the airplane version of that sideways tilt during a turn.
Grounding Statement
Level wings are 0° of bank; a 30° bank is a noticeable but normal sideways tilt used for a controlled turn.
Intuition Check
“Bank” does not mean a place for money here. It means the airplane is tilted sideways, and 30° is the amount of that tilt, not the total amount of turn.
Example Sentence 1
Crossing the holding fix, the pilot rolled into a 30° bank angle to begin the parallel entry.
Example Sentence 2
During the holding pattern entry, a 30° bank angle kept the turn radius within protected airspace.