Definition
An aircraft pitch attitude in which the nose is raised above the level-flight reference, so the longitudinal axis points upward relative to the horizon. On the attitude indicator, the miniature aircraft sits above the horizon line.
Plain English
The nose of the airplane is pointing higher than it would in level flight.
Context Anchor
Seen in pitch-control discussions, attitude indicator interpretation, and instrument corrections during straight-and-level flight.
Why Pilots Care
Excessive nose-high attitude reduces airspeed and can lead to a stall if not corrected promptly.
Intuition Check
Do not read nose high as just a visual description from outside the airplane. In instrument flying, it means the aircraft's pitch is higher than the desired reference for the current task.
Example Sentence 1
After leveling off at cruise, the pilot noticed a slight nose-high attitude on the attitude indicator and lowered the pitch to hold altitude.
Example Sentence 2
In straight-and-level flight the pilot corrected a nose-high attitude by easing forward on the yoke to maintain altitude.