Definition
The combined state of an aircraft's attitude, power setting, and performance at a given moment in flight, as indicated by the flight instruments. In instrument flying, flight conditions are described by two categories of instrument indications: pitch-and-bank attitude, and power.
Plain English
What the airplane is doing right now -- how it's pointed, how it's banked, how fast it's going, and how much power is set -- all read from the instruments.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when a pilot is deciding which instruments need the most attention while checking the panel.
Why Pilots Care
Determines whether the pilot must rely fully on instruments or can use outside references, directly affecting scan technique and safety.
Intuition Check
Do not read flight conditions as only weather conditions. Here it means the whole flying situation, including what the airplane is doing.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot scanned the instruments to confirm the flight conditions matched the desired straight-and-level cruise.
Example Sentence 2
In good flight conditions the pilot could still glance outside while maintaining instrument cross-check.