Definition
Cockpit instrument displays that show the airplane's pitch (nose up or down) and bank (wings level or tilted) relative to the natural horizon. Attitude indications are produced primarily by the attitude indicator and are the basis for controlling the airplane when outside visual references are not available.
Plain English
What the instruments tell you about how the airplane is pointed — whether the nose is up, down, or level, and whether the wings are tilted left, right, or flat.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when using the attitude indicator and other flight instruments to control the airplane without relying on the outside horizon.
Derivation
In aviation, 'attitude' does not mean mood or outlook. It comes from the same root as 'aptitude' and originally meant the position or posture of a figure (used by artists and sculptors). Pilots adopted it to describe the airplane's posture in the air — how it is oriented relative to the horizon.
Why Pilots Care
They enable precise control of the aircraft when outside visual references are unavailable, directly affecting safety in instrument conditions.
Grounding Statement
If you cannot see the horizon outside, attitude indications give you an instrument picture of where the nose and wings are pointing.
Intuition Check
Do not read attitude as emotional state here. In this context, attitude means the airplane’s position relative to the horizon.
Example Sentence 1
Entering the clouds, the pilot shifted scan to the attitude indications to keep the wings level and the nose on the horizon.
Example Sentence 2
Loss of attitude indications required the pilot to use the turn coordinator and altimeter for partial-panel control.