Definition
The combination of aircraft pitch/bank position and engine power output that, taken together, produces a specific flight performance — such as a particular airspeed, rate of climb, rate of descent, or level cruise. In the control and performance method of instrument flying, attitude and power setting are the two primary inputs the pilot adjusts; the resulting performance is then verified on the performance instruments.
Plain English
How the airplane is positioned in the air (nose up, down, level, banked) together with how much engine power you are using. Set those two things correctly and the airplane will fly the way you want.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when a pilot sets a known airplane attitude and power amount first, then checks the instruments to confirm the airplane is performing as expected.
Derivation
Attitude originally referred to a posture or position. In aviation, it means the airplane’s posture in the air: where the nose and wings are pointed. Setting means a selected position or amount, so a power setting is the amount of engine power the pilot chooses.
Why Pilots Care
It provides the primary method for precise aircraft control in instrument conditions without chasing individual performance instruments.
Intuition Check
Attitude here does not mean mood or behavior; it means the airplane’s position in the air. Power setting does not mean electrical power; it means the amount of engine power selected.
Example Sentence 1
For a standard cruise climb, the instructor told her to establish the climb attitude on the attitude indicator and then set climb power — those were her target attitude and power setting.
Example Sentence 2
For a constant-air-speed descent, lower the nose attitude slightly and reduce the power setting to hold the target descent rate and airspeed.