Definition
An instrument flight maneuver in which the pilot rolls into a coordinated turn from the present heading and rolls out on a specific, pre-selected magnetic heading, using the heading indicator as the primary reference for direction and the attitude indicator and turn coordinator to maintain a standard-rate turn.
Plain English
A practice exercise where you decide on a new heading before you start, then turn smoothly until you arrive on that exact heading and stop the turn there.
Context Anchor
Used during instrument training, instrument approaches, holding, course changes, and air traffic control instructions that require the pilot to turn to a specific heading.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate execution prevents overshooting or undershooting assigned headings and maintains situational awareness when outside visual references are unavailable.
Grounding Statement
The key action is to start the turn, monitor the heading as it changes, and begin rolling out before the desired heading so the aircraft stops turning on the selected number.
Intuition Check
Do not treat “predetermined” as a vague direction like “turn left for a while.” It means the exact heading is chosen before or during the maneuver, and the goal is to roll out on that heading.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor asked the student to turn to a predetermined heading of 180 degrees using a standard-rate turn.
Example Sentence 2
After intercepting the localizer, the pilot initiated a turn to a predetermined heading to join the final approach course.