Definition
The long, thin pointer on an analog clock or cockpit timer that rotates once per minute, marking off individual seconds around the full face of the dial.
Plain English
The big skinny needle on a round clock that moves one tick every second and goes all the way around in 60 seconds. Pilots use it to time things accurately.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when a pilot times a turn using the aircraft clock, a watch, or another analog timer.
Derivation
Called 'sweep' because, unlike the small subdial second hand on some watches, it sweeps across the full face of the main dial. This makes each second easy to read at a glance — useful when timing a maneuver and flying the airplane at the same time.
Why Pilots Care
Enables accurate timing of standard-rate turns at three degrees per second without relying solely on the turn coordinator.
Grounding Statement
Picture the thin seconds hand on a clock moving around once each minute while the pilot counts the seconds of the turn.
Intuition Check
A sweep-second hand is not a special flight instrument. It is simply the seconds hand on a clock or watch used for precise timing.
Example Sentence 1
When the sweep-second hand reached the twelve, the pilot rolled into a standard-rate turn and began counting off the seconds.
Example Sentence 2
She started the turn when the sweep-second hand reached twelve and rolled out when it reached the six.