Definition
A description of a standard rate turn, in which the aircraft completes a full 360° circle in two minutes — equivalent to a turn rate of 3° per second. This is the rate referenced by the turn coordinator or turn-and-slip indicator when the needle or miniature aircraft aligns with the standard rate index.
Plain English
If you hold a standard rate turn, you'll go all the way around in a full circle in exactly two minutes. That works out to three degrees of heading change every second.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when learning or checking standard rate turns on the turn coordinator or turn-and-slip indicator.
Why Pilots Care
Allows predictable timing of maneuvers such as holding patterns without constant reference to the heading indicator.
Analogy
Think of it like a clock hand making one complete trip around the clock face in a set amount of time. Here, the airplane’s heading makes one full trip around the compass in two minutes.
Intuition Check
Do not read “circle” as a perfect circle drawn over the ground. Wind may change the ground path; the key idea is a full 360-degree change in heading in two minutes.
Example Sentence 1
Established in the hold, the pilot rolled into a standard rate turn, knowing the 180° outbound-to-inbound turn would take one minute.
Example Sentence 2
Maintaining a 360° circle in 2 minutes produced a precise course reversal during the approach procedure.