Plain English Meaning

Flying the airplane purely by what the instruments tell you. Instead of judging the airplane's position by looking out the window, you read the instruments to know where the nose is pointed and how the wings are tilted, and you use the controls to keep or adjust that picture.

Full Definition

The technique of controlling an airplane's attitude — its pitch and bank relative to the horizon — by reference to the flight instruments rather than by looking outside, and using those instrument indications to maintain or change the desired flight path.

Context Anchor

Seen at the beginning of instrument training, especially in discussions of flying in , , darkness, or any where the is to see.