FAA Flight Instructor Airplane (FIA)Flight Maneuvers and EndorsementsHard
A commercial pilot applicant is rolling out of a 45° bank steep turn on the practical test. To roll out precisely on the entry heading, the applicant should begin the rollout by leading the desired heading by approximately:
- ATwice the bank angle
- BOne-tenth of the bank angle
- COne-half of the bank angle
- DThe full bank angle
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. One-half of the bank angle
A commonly applied rule of thumb for rollout timing is to lead the desired heading by an amount approximately equal to one-half the bank angle used, so for a 45° bank the pilot begins rolling out about 20°-25° before reaching the entry heading.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Twice the bank angle is excessive and would result in a large heading undershoot.
- B. Leading by only one-tenth the bank angle would cause the airplane to overshoot the heading significantly.
- D. Leading by the full bank angle would cause the rollout to begin far too early, undershooting the heading.
Steep Turn Rollout Lead
To roll out precisely on a target heading, a pilot begins the rollout before reaching that heading by an amount approximately equal to half the bank angle in use.
- Rule of thumb: lead = about 1/2 the bank angle
- For 45° bank, lead rollout by roughly 20-25°
- Prevents overshoot of the entry heading
- Applies broadly to turns to headings, not just steep turns
Memory trick: 'Half the bank, start the lag' — lead the roll-out by half your bank angle.