Definition
A flight instrument display in which two needles -- one horizontal and one vertical -- cross at right angles on a single instrument face to show the aircraft's deviation from a desired flight path. The horizontal needle typically indicates vertical deviation (such as glideslope), and the vertical needle indicates lateral deviation (such as localizer or course). When both needles are centered and form a perfect cross over the center index, the aircraft is on the intended path.
Plain English
An instrument with two crossing needles that show how far off course you are. Center both needles and you are flying exactly where you should be.
Context Anchor
Seen on helicopter flight director or attitude display systems used with stabilization and automatic flight control systems.
Derivation
Called 'cross pointer' because the two needles literally cross each other on the instrument face. The pilot's job is to keep the crossing point centered.
Why Pilots Care
Provides immediate visual cues for precise path corrections in instrument conditions without scanning separate instruments.
Analogy
Think of it like a target reticle: when the two lines meet dead-center on the bullseye, you're on track. Drift up, down, left, or right and the needles slide off-center to show you exactly which way to correct.
Intuition Check
Do not read “cross” as meaning something is wrong or that the pointers must be ignored. Here, “cross pointer” describes the display style: two pointer bars crossing on the instrument to show guidance.
Example Sentence 1
On the ILS approach, the pilot kept the cross pointer centered by making small pitch and bank corrections all the way to decision height.
Example Sentence 2
When the AFCS was coupled, the cross pointer system showed small vertical deviations that the pilot corrected with collective input.