What altitude loss is incurred with a 45° bank during descent approach?

When an aircraft is in a 45° bank during a descent approach, it experiences a significant increase in lift requirements due to the increased load factor associated with the banked turn. The increased load factor causes the aircraft to lose altitude more rapidly than it would in a normal descent.

In a 45° bank, the load factor is approximately 1.41, which means that the aircraft must generate about 41% more lift to maintain altitude compared to straight and level flight. As a result, while in a descent at this bank angle, the aircraft will typically lose altitude more quickly.

The loss of altitude during such a maneuver can vary depending on several factors, including the specific aircraft characteristics, weight, and configuration. However, in many training scenarios, a standard rule of thumb is that an aircraft will lose around 1,500 feet of altitude with a 45° bank in a descent approach, reflecting the additional lift required and the effect of the bank on the descent rate.

This makes the provided answer of 1,500 feet the correct one, as it aligns with these principles of aerodynamics and operational performance during a banked descent.