Plain English Meaning

How the aircraft is sitting in the air when its nose is set so it stays at the same height — not climbing, not descending.

Full Definition

The pitch position of an aircraft in which the longitudinal axis is held parallel to the horizon, producing neither a climb nor a descent and resulting in a constant altitude when properly trimmed at a steady power setting.

Context Anchor

Used during basic flight training when learning straight-and-level flight and outside visual references.

Derivation

‘’ here comes from the Italian ‘attitudine,’ meaning posture or position. In , it refers to how the aircraft is positioned to the horizon — not a mood or feeling.