Definition
A coordinated left turn flown at the standard rate of 3 degrees per second, which produces a complete 360-degree turn in two minutes and a 180-degree turn in one minute. On the turn coordinator or turn-and-slip indicator, this is shown when the miniature aircraft or needle is aligned with the left-hand standard-rate index mark.
Plain English
A left turn flown at the standard rate used in instrument flying — slow and steady enough that the airplane changes heading by 3 degrees every second, taking two minutes to come all the way around.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when practicing timed turns or when using the turn indicator to make a precise heading change without relying only on outside visual references.
Why Pilots Care
Enables accurate heading changes using only the turn coordinator and a clock when the heading indicator is unreliable or inoperative.
Grounding Statement
Picture the aircraft’s nose moving left around the compass at a steady 3 degrees each second.
Intuition Check
“Standard-rate” does not mean any normal-looking left turn. Here it specifically means a left turn at 3 degrees per second.
Example Sentence 1
Cleared to enter the hold, the pilot began a standard-rate turn to the left and timed one minute on the inbound leg.
Example Sentence 2
When the heading indicator failed, the crew used a standard-rate turn to the left and a stopwatch to reverse course.