Definition
The systematic scanning of the pitch instruments — attitude indicator, altimeter, vertical speed indicator, and airspeed indicator — to determine and verify the airplane's pitch attitude during instrument flight. The attitude indicator is the primary reference for setting pitch, while the altimeter, VSI, and airspeed indicator are used to confirm that the selected pitch attitude is producing the desired performance.
Plain English
It's the habit of looking at several flight instruments in turn — not just one — to check whether the nose of the airplane is set at the right angle and is doing what you want it to do.
Context Anchor
Used during instrument flying, especially when the pilot cannot rely on the outside horizon and must control pitch by reference to cockpit instruments.
Derivation
Cross-check' comes from the idea of checking one thing against another. In instrument flying, no single instrument tells the whole story — so the pilot cross-checks several to confirm the picture is consistent.
Why Pilots Care
Prevents unnoticed altitude or airspeed deviations that can lead to loss of control or unstable approaches in instrument conditions.
Grounding Statement
The attitude instrument shows the nose position first, and the other instruments confirm whether that nose position is giving the flight result you want.
Intuition Check
Do not read “attitude” as a state of mind or “pitch” as a sound. Here, pitch attitude means the airplane’s nose-up or nose-down position, and cross-check means comparing instruments to confirm it.
Example Sentence 1
During the climb, the pilot used a steady pitch attitude instrument cross-check to hold the nose at the climb attitude while watching airspeed and altitude trend correctly.
Example Sentence 2
During the ILS approach the pilot maintained a steady pitch attitude instrument cross-check to hold the glide path and target airspeed.