Definition
A course reversal maneuver flown on instruments in which the pilot, from the outbound course, turns 80 degrees in one direction and then immediately reverses to a 260 degree turn in the opposite direction, rolling out on the inbound course. The two turns combine to produce a 180 degree reversal of heading.
Plain English
A way of turning the airplane around to fly back the way it came. You first turn 80 degrees one way, then keep going by turning 260 degrees the other way, which lines you up flying in the opposite direction.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument approach training and in discussions of basic instrument flight patterns, especially when learning ways to reverse course and return inbound.
Derivation
The name simply describes the maneuver: 80 degrees of turn one way, then 260 degrees the other way. Together they reverse direction (80 + 260 = 340, but because the second turn is in the opposite direction the net result is a 180 degree reversal).
Why Pilots Care
Provides a standardized, controlled method to reverse direction and lose altitude while remaining aligned for the approach in instrument conditions.
Grounding Statement
Picture flying away from the airport, making a moderate turn to one side, then making a wide turn back the other way until you are pointed inbound again.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as any procedure turn that happens to use headings 080 and 260. In this term, 80 and 260 are the sizes of the two turns in degrees.
Example Sentence 1
After crossing the fix outbound, the pilot flew an 80/260 procedure turn to reverse course and intercept the inbound track.
Example Sentence 2
Executing the 80/260 procedure turn allowed the aircraft to descend while establishing proper alignment for the approach.