Definition
A specific nose-to-horizon attitude the pilot deliberately establishes and holds to achieve a desired performance result, such as a target airspeed, climb rate, or descent profile. The pitch target is set by reference to the visual horizon outside or to the attitude indicator inside, and is then trimmed and held until performance is verified.
Plain English
The exact nose position the pilot picks and flies to, so the airplane gives the speed or climb or descent they want.
Context Anchor
Used when managing airplane energy, especially during approach, landing, go-around, or recovery from an unsafe slowing or sinking condition.
Derivation
Pitch' refers to the up-and-down rotation of the nose around the lateral axis. 'Target' means the chosen value to aim at. Together: the chosen nose attitude the pilot aims for and holds.
Why Pilots Care
Selecting and holding the correct pitch target is a primary way to manage airspeed and prevent irreversible deceleration or uncontrolled sink.
Grounding Statement
If the airplane is getting slow and sinking, the pitch target gives the pilot a clear nose position to use instead of guessing.
Intuition Check
Do not read pitch as sound, sales talk, or throwing something. Here, pitch means the airplane’s nose-up or nose-down attitude, and target means the intended attitude to set and hold.
Example Sentence 1
When the sink rate began to build on final, the pilot set the pitch target for best glide and confirmed the airspeed stabilized.
Example Sentence 2
During the go-around the instructor called for a higher pitch target to stop the sink rate and regain climb speed.