Plain English Meaning
Holding the controls lightly with your fingertips and nudging them with small pressures, instead of squeezing the yoke and pulling or pushing it.
Full Definition
A control input technique in which the pilot holds the flight controls lightly between the fingertips and applies only small, gentle pressures rather than gripping the yoke or stick firmly. Used especially during instrument flight to make smooth, precise attitude corrections and to avoid overcontrolling.
Context Anchor
Encountered in attitude control discussions, especially when a pilot must control the airplane by instruments after losing outside visual references.
Why Pilots Care
Reduces the of overcontrolling the , which can quickly to or in .