Plain English Meaning

A flight path shaped like an oval, where the aircraft flies straight, makes a U-turn, flies straight in the opposite direction, then makes another U-turn to end up back where it started. Pilots use this to reverse course or lose altitude before lining up for an approach.

Full Definition

A flight maneuver consisting of two parallel straight legs connected by two 180-degree turns, forming an oval ground track that resembles a racetrack. In instrument flying, it is used as a course reversal procedure when depicted on an approach chart, allowing the aircraft to lose altitude and align with the inbound course before beginning the final approach.

Context Anchor

Seen on instrument approach charts and in procedure-turn discussions, especially when the must turn around in a , predictable way before continuing inbound.