Definition
A turn in which the aircraft changes heading at a fixed number of degrees per second, typically the standard rate of 3 degrees per second (a full 360-degree turn in two minutes). The pilot adjusts bank angle to hold this rate as airspeed changes — faster speeds require more bank, slower speeds less.
Plain English
A turn where the heading is changing at a steady, predictable speed — for example, three degrees every second — instead of the bank just being held at a fixed angle.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying discussions about how the inner ear can mislead a pilot during a steady turn with few outside visual cues.
Derivation
Rate' here means 'how fast something changes over time' — degrees of heading per second. The phrase emphasises that the rate of heading change stays constant, not the bank angle.
Why Pilots Care
Allows precise, predictable heading changes under instrument conditions without overshooting or undershooting the target heading.
Analogy
It is like sitting in a slowly rotating chair that keeps turning at the same speed. At first you feel the motion, but after a while the steady turning can feel normal.
Grounding Statement
A constant rate turn can feel less noticeable to the body the longer it continues, even though the aircraft is still changing direction.
Intuition Check
“Constant rate” does not mean the aircraft is level, perfectly smooth, or making a standard-rate turn. It only means the pace of the turn stays the same.
Example Sentence 1
Entering the holding pattern, the pilot established a constant rate turn of three degrees per second to roll out on the inbound course after one minute.
Example Sentence 2
During the approach, maintain a constant rate turn so the rollout lines up precisely with the final approach course.