Definition
The procedure for entering a turn at the standard rate of 3° per second, which completes a 360° turn in two minutes. On the turn coordinator or turn-and-slip indicator, this is shown when the miniature aircraft (or needle) is aligned with the standard rate index mark. The pilot rolls into the turn with coordinated aileron and rudder, adjusts bank angle until the instrument indicates standard rate, and holds that bank to maintain it. The required bank angle increases with true airspeed; a common rule of thumb is bank ≈ (true airspeed ÷ 10) + 7.
Plain English
Rolling into a turn and setting the bank so the airplane is turning at three degrees every second, which means a full circle takes two minutes. You confirm you've got it right by checking the turn instrument and seeing the indicator sit on the standard rate mark.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when learning or performing timed turns, heading changes, holding patterns, and procedure turns.
Why Pilots Care
Produces predictable, coordinated turns that keep the aircraft stable and comfortable while flying solely by reference to instruments.
Intuition Check
“Standard” does not mean any comfortable or average turn. Here it means a specific turn rate: 3 degrees of heading change each second.
Example Sentence 1
After being cleared to turn left to heading 270, the pilot established a standard rate turn and rolled out on the new heading.
Example Sentence 2
While establishing a standard rate turn to the assigned heading, the pilot adjusted pitch to hold altitude and kept the ball centered.