Definition
A display on the attitude indicator showing that the aircraft's longitudinal axis (nose) is pointed above the horizon. On the instrument, this appears as the symbolic aircraft (the miniature airplane reference) positioned above the artificial horizon line, with the amount of pitch measured in degrees by the pitch reference marks.
Plain English
It is what the attitude indicator shows when the airplane's nose is pointing up above the horizon. The little airplane symbol on the instrument sits higher than the horizon line on the display.
Context Anchor
Seen on the attitude indicator during instrument flying, especially when checking climb, level, or recovery attitudes.
Derivation
Indication comes from a Latin word meaning "to point out" or "to show." In this term, it reminds you that the instrument is showing a nose-up attitude; it is not automatically proving that the airplane is going upward.
Why Pilots Care
It lets the pilot maintain or correct pitch attitude without outside visual references, preventing stalls or loss of control.
Grounding Statement
Picture the horizon line on the instrument staying level while the airplane symbol shows its nose above that line.
Intuition Check
Nose-up does not automatically mean the airplane is climbing. It means the instrument shows the nose above the horizon reference; the airplane could still be going down.
Example Sentence 1
After rotation on takeoff, the attitude indicator gave a clear nose-up indication of about ten degrees as the aircraft began its climb.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot lowered the nose slightly to reduce the nose-up indication on the attitude indicator.