Definition
The long, thin hand on an analog clock or aircraft chronometer that moves continuously around the dial, marking off seconds as it travels. On instrument panel clocks, it provides a clear visual reference for timing intervals during flight procedures.
Plain English
The skinny hand on a clock that moves smoothly around the face, pointing at each second as it goes. Pilots use it to time things accurately.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying discussions about the aircraft clock, timing tasks, and using seconds accurately during flight.
Derivation
Sweep' describes how the hand moves smoothly and continuously around the dial — like a broom sweeping — rather than ticking from second to second. 'Second' refers to the unit of time it tracks, and 'pointer' is simply the hand that points at the markings.
Why Pilots Care
Enables precise, distraction-free timing of maneuvers and procedures where exact seconds matter.
Intuition Check
Do not read sweep here as cleaning or as scanning the instruments. It means the seconds hand moves around the clock face.
Example Sentence 1
When she crossed the final approach fix, she started the sweep-second pointer to time the approach.
Example Sentence 2
Accurate timing on the approach relied on the steady motion of the sweep-second pointer.