Definition
A turn made at a rate of 3 degrees per second, which completes a 360-degree turn in 2 minutes. It is the standard turn rate used in instrument flying and is indicated on the turn coordinator or turn-and-slip indicator.
Plain English
A turn that takes 2 minutes to go all the way around in a full circle, or 1 minute to do a half-circle. It is the steady, predictable turn rate pilots use when flying on instruments.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying, holding, course changes, and controller instructions where a predictable turn rate is expected.
Why Pilots Care
Provides consistent, predictable turn timing that supports precise navigation without needing to calculate bank angle for each airspeed.
Analogy
Think of it like turning around a clock face at a steady pace. At standard rate, the aircraft takes two full minutes to come all the way back to its starting heading.
Intuition Check
Do not read “standard” as just meaning ordinary or comfortable. Here it means a specific measured turn rate: 3 degrees per second.
Example Sentence 1
After being cleared into the hold, the pilot used a standard rate turn to enter the pattern and stay within the protected airspace.
Example Sentence 2
All turns in the published holding pattern were flown at standard rate to meet the required leg timing.