Plain English Meaning

Staring too much at one instrument and not paying enough attention to the others, so you miss what the rest are telling you.

Full Definition

In instrument cross-check, a cross-check error in which the pilot places excessive attention on a single instrument or small group of instruments while neglecting others, resulting in an incomplete picture of aircraft attitude and performance.

Context Anchor

Seen when learning how to scan analog flight instruments during attitude instrument flying.

Derivation

From Greek 'emphasis' meaning 'to show or display'. In everyday speech it means 'special importance given to something'. In instrument flying it carries that same idea, but with a twist: too much importance placed on one instrument at the expense of the others.