Definition
A short-duration power rating for a reciprocating or turbine engine specifying the maximum power output the engine is certified to produce for a continuous period of no more than five minutes, typically used during takeoff or in an emergency such as a one-engine-inoperative climb in a multi-engine aircraft.
Plain English
The highest power level the engine is allowed to put out, but only for up to five minutes at a time. After that, power must be reduced to a setting the engine can sustain without damage.
Context Anchor
Seen in engine manuals, aircraft operating limitations, and performance discussions where maximum takeoff power is described.
Derivation
Rating comes from the idea of assigning an approved value or limit to something. Here, it means the approved engine power limit for a specific time period: five minutes.
Why Pilots Care
Exceeding the time limit risks engine damage, so pilots track elapsed time at high power during takeoff and initial climb.
Intuition Check
Do not read rating here as a pilot qualification, such as an instrument rating. In this term, rating means an approved engine power limit.
Example Sentence 1
After losing the right engine on takeoff, the pilot used the five-minute rating on the remaining engine to climb clear of obstacles before reducing to maximum continuous power.
Example Sentence 2
After five minutes at full power the pilot reduced to maximum continuous to respect the engine's five-minute rating.