Plain English Meaning

A check the pilot performs in flight to see whether the aircraft is still flying and handling normally after something may have changed how it behaves — for example, after picking up ice. The pilot gently tests the controls and slows the aircraft in stages to find out what is still safe to do.

Full Definition

A deliberate, careful evaluation of how an aircraft is responding to control inputs after a suspected change in its handling characteristics — most commonly performed after an inadvertent icing encounter. The pilot tests pitch, roll, and stall behavior at altitude, with adequate margin, to determine whether the aircraft is still safely controllable and to identify what airspeed and configuration changes can be made before committing to an .