Definition
An instrument flying maneuver in which the pilot rolls into a standard-rate turn and then rolls out on a specific heading selected in advance, using the heading indicator (or HSI) as the primary reference and timing the rollout so the aircraft stops turning exactly on the chosen heading.
Plain English
Turning the airplane and stopping the turn on a specific compass heading you picked before you started.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when practicing turns, following assigned headings, or changing direction without relying on outside visual references.
Derivation
Predetermined comes from Latin prae (before) and determinare (to set or fix). A predetermined heading is one decided on before the turn begins, not chosen mid-turn.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures accurate course changes without visual references, preventing heading errors that could lead to deviation from assigned routes or approaches.
Intuition Check
Do not treat heading as the same thing as the path over the ground. In this term, heading means the direction the aircraft’s nose is pointing, shown as a number in degrees.
Example Sentence 1
During the lesson, the instructor had the student practice turns to predetermined headings, calling out a new heading every minute or so.
Example Sentence 2
During the approach, the pilot executed turns to predetermined headings to intercept the localizer course.