Definition
A primary flight instrument that displays the airplane's pitch and bank attitude relative to the horizon, with added command bars (or cue) driven by the flight director that show the pilot the precise pitch and bank needed to fly the selected flight path. The ADI combines the function of an attitude indicator with steering guidance from the flight director computer.
Plain English
An instrument that shows which way the airplane is pointed relative to the horizon, plus a movable pointer or set of bars telling the pilot exactly how to pitch and bank to follow the chosen course or altitude.
Context Anchor
You encounter the ADI during instrument flying and when using a flight director or autopilot system. In newer airplanes, the same information may appear on the primary flight display.
Derivation
Director is added because the instrument doesn't just show attitude — it directs the pilot, displaying where to put the airplane next. The flight director computer feeds steering commands into the indicator, so the pilot sees both current attitude and commanded attitude on the same face.
Why Pilots Care
It reduces pilot workload by combining essential attitude reference and navigation guidance into one instrument, improving precision during critical phases of flight like approaches.
Grounding Statement
Think of the ADI as the main place you look to see both what the airplane is doing and what the guidance system wants it to do next.
Intuition Check
“Attitude” does not mean the pilot’s mood here. It means the airplane’s position relative to the horizon: nose up or down, and wings level or banked.
Example Sentence 1
After engaging the flight director, the pilot flew the command bars on the ADI to capture the assigned heading and altitude.
Example Sentence 2
In the event of an autopilot failure, the ADI continued to provide attitude information for manual flying.