Definition
The graduated reference markings on the pitch scale of an electronic flight display's attitude indicator, spaced every 5 degrees above and below the horizon line, used by the pilot to set and read the airplane's pitch attitude precisely.
Plain English
The pitch scale on the attitude display has lines marked every 5 degrees, so the pilot can see exactly how far the nose is pitched up or down.
Context Anchor
Seen on the pitch scale of an electronic flight display when setting or checking airplane pitch.
Why Pilots Care
Prevents large pitch excursions that cause altitude or airspeed deviations and allows smooth, controlled corrections.
Analogy
It is like a ruler marked every five units instead of every single unit; each mark gives you a known spacing to measure from.
Intuition Check
Do not assume this means the pilot must move the nose exactly five degrees at a time. It means the display is marked in five-degree steps so pitch can be read and adjusted accurately.
Example Sentence 1
The attitude indicator on the PFD shows pitch in 5-degree increments, with longer lines marking each 10-degree division.
Example Sentence 2
To correct a 100-foot altitude deviation, apply pitch changes in 5-degree increments while monitoring the altimeter.