Definition
In flight, a condition in which the airplane's rudder and aileron inputs are balanced so that the airplane turns without slipping or skidding. In a coordinated turn, the lateral force on the aircraft is directed straight down through the pilot's seat, and the inclinometer ball (the small black ball in the turn coordinator or slip/skid indicator) is centered.
Plain English
The airplane is turning smoothly, with the nose tracking through the turn the way it should. You're not sliding sideways through the air. The little ball on the instrument panel sits in the middle.
Context Anchor
Used during maneuvering, including eights on pylons, when the pilot must keep the airplane balanced while turning around a ground reference.
Derivation
From Latin 'co-' (together) and 'ordinare' (to arrange in order). To coordinate is to make several things work together properly. In flight, it means the rudder and ailerons are working together so the airplane turns cleanly.
Why Pilots Care
Uncoordinated flight creates slips or skids that reduce accuracy in maneuvers, waste energy, and can lead to loss of control in critical phases such as stalls or low-altitude turns.
Intuition Check
Coordinated does not just mean “smooth” or “well planned.” In flying, it specifically means the airplane is balanced in the air and not sliding sideways during the maneuver.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor reminded the student to keep the turn coordinated by adding a little right rudder as he rolled into the bank.
Example Sentence 2
During the turn, proper rudder pressure kept the flight coordinated so the airplane did not skid outward.