Definition
The altitude at which a pilot begins the level-off from a climb or descent, set short of the target altitude so that the aircraft arrives smoothly on altitude rather than overshooting it. A common rule of thumb is to begin the level-off at roughly 10 percent of the vertical speed before reaching the target altitude (for example, 50 feet early at 500 feet per minute).
Plain English
The point where you start leveling off a little before you actually reach the altitude you want, so the aircraft settles right on it instead of blowing through it.
Context Anchor
Seen during instrument flying when leveling off from a straight climb or descent at an assigned or selected altitude.
Derivation
From the everyday sense of 'lead' meaning 'to go ahead of' — the same idea as leading a moving target. The pilot acts ahead of the altitude, not on it.
Why Pilots Care
Precise altitude capture maintains ATC separation and prevents altitude deviations.
Analogy
It is like easing off the gas before reaching a stop sign instead of waiting until you are right at the sign. Starting early lets you arrive smoothly instead of correcting late.
Intuition Check
Do not think of the lead point as the altitude you want to hold. It is the earlier point where you begin the change so you can capture the altitude you want.
Example Sentence 1
Climbing at 500 feet per minute toward 6,000 feet, the pilot used a lead point of 5,950 feet to begin the level-off.
Example Sentence 2
In a 500-foot-per-minute descent the lead point is started 50 feet above the target altitude.