Definition
On the attitude indicator, a fixed marker on the instrument case that indicates the aircraft's bank angle by aligning with the graduated bank scale on the upper portion of the instrument face. The scale is marked at 0°, 10°, 20°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90° of bank.
Plain English
A small fixed arrow on the attitude indicator that points to a number on the curved scale at the top, telling you how steeply the aircraft is banked.
Context Anchor
Seen on the attitude indicator during straight-and-level flight, turns, and instrument scan practice.
Derivation
Scale' here means a graduated set of markings used for measurement, from Latin scala meaning 'ladder' or 'steps.' The pointer 'points' to a step on that ladder of bank values. Together: a fixed indicator that reads against a graduated bank scale.
Why Pilots Care
Reading the scale pointer accurately is how a pilot confirms a precise bank angle in instrument conditions, where outside visual cues are unavailable. A standard rate turn, for example, typically uses a specific bank angle the pilot must set and hold using this reference.
Analogy
It works like a needle pointing at marks on a gauge: the pointer is not the measurement by itself, but it shows where to read the scale.
Intuition Check
Do not read “scale pointer” as a general pointer or cursor. Here it means the specific marker on the attitude indicator that points to the bank scale.
Example Sentence 1
Rolling into the turn, she watched the scale pointer move across the bank scale until it indicated 30° of bank.
Example Sentence 2
A slight adjustment brought the scale pointer back to the zero mark on the attitude indicator.