Definition
A pre-determined power (throttle/manifold pressure) setting used to establish and maintain a desired rate or airspeed during a controlled descent. The pilot reduces power from the cruise setting to a value that, combined with pitch attitude, produces the planned descent profile (for example, a constant airspeed descent or a constant rate descent of 500 fpm).
Plain English
The amount of engine power you set when you want to come down — less than cruise power, but not idle — chosen so the airplane descends at the speed or rate you want.
Context Anchor
Used during instrument flying when setting up a straight descent, especially when practicing a constant-airspeed descent or a constant-rate descent.
Why Pilots Care
Ensures the aircraft descends at a controlled rate and airspeed, critical for instrument approaches and traffic pattern entries.
Grounding Statement
In a descent, the airplane’s nose position and engine power work together: the power setting helps determine how fast and how steadily the airplane comes down.
Intuition Check
Do not think of a descending power setting as one fixed number for every descent. It depends on the airplane, its setup, and whether the pilot is trying to hold a target airspeed or a target rate of descent.
Example Sentence 1
Approaching the initial fix, she reduced to her descending power setting of 17 inches and trimmed for 500 feet per minute down.
Example Sentence 2
During the approach briefing, the instructor specified the descending power setting needed for a 500-foot-per-minute descent at 100 knots.