FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Navigation, Air Traffic Control and ProceduresMedium
An airliner is holding at 180 knots true airspeed and needs to fly a standard-rate turn. Using the standard bank angle formula (TAS/10 + 7), approximately what bank angle should the pilot use?
- A25 degrees
- B18 degrees
- C35 degrees
- D30 degrees
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. 25 degrees
Using the formula bank angle = (TAS/10) + 7: (180/10) + 7 = 18 + 7 = 25 degrees, which produces the standard rate of turn (3 degrees per second, or 360 degrees in 2 minutes) at this true airspeed.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. 18 degrees omits the '+7' correction factor from the formula.
- C. 35 degrees significantly overshoots the bank angle needed for a standard-rate turn at 180 KTAS.
- D. 30 degrees would produce a turn rate faster than standard at this airspeed.
Standard Rate Turn Bank Angle
A standard-rate turn is 3 degrees per second (360° in 2 minutes); required bank angle increases with true airspeed per the formula TAS/10 + 7.
- Standard rate = 3°/second turn rate
- Bank angle formula: (TAS/10) + 7
- At high TAS, a half-standard-rate turn (1.5°/sec) may be used instead to limit bank angle
Memory trick: Divide by ten, add seven — bank angle heaven.