Attitude flying is a fundamental skill in airplane control. Pilots use visual references and flight instruments to determine the airplane’s pitch and bank attitude and maintain the desired flight condition. Understanding how to recognize and control airplane attitude is essential for performing basic flight maneuvers safely and accurately.
An airplane’s attitude is its orientation relative to the natural horizon, described by the angular relationship between the airplane’s axes and the horizon. A false horizon can occur when the natural horizon is obscured or not readily apparent. This is an important concept because it requires the pilot to develop a pictorial sense of this natural horizon. Pitch attitude is the angle between the airplane’s longitudinal axis, which extends from the nose to the tail, and the natural horizon. Bank attitude is the angle formed by the airplane’s lateral axis, which extends from wingtip to wingtip, and the natural horizon. [Figures 1A and 1B]
Yaw is rotation about the airplane’s vertical axis. Unlike pitch and bank attitude, yaw is not normally described by an angle relative to the natural horizon.
Pilots determine airplane attitude using visual references or flight instruments, depending on the available conditions. When flying “visually” in visual meteorological conditions (VMC), a pilot uses their eyes and visually references the airplane’s wings and cowling to establish the airplane’s attitude to the natural horizon (a visible horizon). When the natural horizon is obscured or indistinct because of clouds, haze, whiteout conditions, or darkness over an unlit area, the pilot may lack reliable visual references for attitude control. In such circumstances, the pilot must rely on flight instruments as appropriate, regardless of the formally reported meteorological conditions. [Figure 2]
When flying in IMC, or when cross-checking visual references, pilots use mechanical or electronic flight instruments to determine and control airplane attitude.
The four components used to establish and maintain airplane attitude and flight condition are pitch control, bank (roll) control, power control, and trim control.
- Pitch control—controlling the airplane’s pitch attitude about its lateral axis by using the elevator to raise or lower the nose relative to the natural horizon or as indicated by the flight instruments.
- Bank control—controlling the airplane’s roll about its longitudinal axis using the ailerons to establish the desired bank angle relative to the natural horizon or as indicated by the flight instruments.
- Power control—adjusting engine power using the throttle in most general aviation airplanes to establish or maintain the desired flight condition.
- Trim control—used to relieve sustained control pressure after the desired flight condition has been established, reducing the effort required to maintain it.