Definition 1 of 2
Definition
The amount of power an engine is producing at a given moment, established by the pilot through the throttle and (where applicable) propeller and mixture controls. In piston aircraft, power setting is typically expressed as a combination of manifold pressure (in inches of mercury) and propeller RPM. In turbine aircraft, it is expressed using parameters such as N1, EPR, or torque, depending on engine type.
Plain English
How much power the engine is making right now, set by the pilot using the engine controls. Different aircraft show this in different ways, but the idea is the same: a chosen level of engine output for a chosen phase of flight.
Context Anchor
Seen in checklists, aircraft operating procedures, performance charts, and normal cockpit callouts such as takeoff, climb, cruise, and descent power.
Why Pilots Care
Proper power settings deliver required performance for takeoff and climb while protecting the engine from damage and controlling fuel use.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a power setting is only the physical position of the throttle. It is the engine output the pilot selects and checks on the instruments; different aircraft show that output in different ways.
Example Sentence 1
After leveling off in cruise, she reduced the power setting to 23 inches of manifold pressure and 2,300 RPM as called for in the handbook.
Example Sentence 2
During the approach the power setting was reduced to maintain the target airspeed and descent rate.