Definition
The act of moving the airplane from wings-level flight into a bank by applying coordinated aileron and rudder inputs to begin a turn.
Plain English
Rolling the airplane from level flight into a banked turn.
Context Anchor
Seen in level-turn training when moving from straight-and-level flight into an established left or right turn.
Derivation
Plain English compound from 'roll' (rotation about the airplane's longitudinal axis) and 'in' (entering the turn). 'Roll-in' is the entry; 'roll-out' is the exit.
Why Pilots Care
A controlled roll-in prevents altitude loss, airspeed changes, or uncoordinated flight during turn entry.
Intuition Check
Do not read “roll-in” as rolling on the ground or simply starting to move. In this context, it means banking the airplane into a turn in flight.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor demonstrated a smooth roll-in to a 30-degree bank, then neutralized the controls to hold the turn.
Example Sentence 2
A slow roll-in allows the airplane to settle into the bank without gaining or losing airspeed.