Standard rate turn

Definitions

• A turn in which an aircraft changes its direction at a rate of 3° per second (360° in 2 minutes) for low- or medium-speed aircraft. For high-speed aircraft, the standard rate turn is 11/2° per second (360° in 4 minutes).
• A turn in which an aircraft changes its direction at a rate of 3° per second. The turn indicators are typically 2 minute or 4 minute instruments. In a 2 minute instrument, if the needle is one needle width either side of the center alignment mark, the turn is 3° per second and the turn takes 2 minutes to execute a 360° turn. In a 4 minute instrument, the same turn takes two widths deflection of the needle to achieve 3° per second. The 4 minute turn instrument is usually found on high performance aircraft.

References

• Instrument Flying Handbook, Federal Aviation Administration, 2014
• Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Federal Aviation Administration, 2023