Definition
The small index marks arranged around the top of the attitude indicator that show the airplane's angle of bank. The fixed pointers are typically positioned at 0°, 10°, 20°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90°, and a moving pointer (attached to the instrument's bank index) aligns with one of them to indicate the current bank angle.
Plain English
The little tick marks at the top of the attitude indicator that tell you how steeply the wings are tilted left or right.
Context Anchor
Seen on the analog attitude indicator during instrument flying, especially when setting, holding, or correcting a turn.
Derivation
In aviation, “bank” means the airplane is tilted to one side, not a place for money. “Pointer” comes from the idea of pointing something out; here, the marks point out the amount of tilt.
Why Pilots Care
Precise bank indications allow the pilot to maintain coordinated turns, desired headings, and standard-rate turns without relying on outside visual references.
Intuition Check
Bank does not mean a financial bank here; it means the airplane is tilted left or right. Bank pointers do not command a turn; they show how much bank is already being shown on the instrument.
Example Sentence 1
Rolling into the turn, she watched the bank pointer settle on the 30° mark and held it there.
Example Sentence 2
During the turn, the pilot monitored the bank pointers to keep the turn coordinated and at the proper rate.