Definition
Red arrow-shaped symbols (pointing toward the horizon line) displayed on the attitude indicator of glass cockpit primary flight displays when the aircraft's pitch attitude becomes extreme. They appear on the sky side when the nose is pitched excessively up, and on the ground side when the nose is pitched excessively down, indicating the direction the pilot must pitch the aircraft to recover toward level flight.
Plain English
Big red arrows that show up on the attitude display when the nose is pointed way too high or way too low. They point the way back to level. Follow the arrows.
Context Anchor
Seen on an electronic attitude display during unusual-attitude recovery, especially when the airplane is in a very steep nose-up or nose-down position.
Derivation
A chevron is a V-shaped or arrow-shaped mark, from the Old French chevron meaning 'rafter' (the angled beams of a roof). Pilots see the same V shape — and the arrows on the attitude display point the way the nose needs to move to get back to level.
Why Pilots Care
They provide immediate visual warning of an attitude that can quickly lead to loss of control or stall if not corrected.
Intuition Check
Do not confuse these with runway chevron markings or decorative symbols. In this context, red chevrons are cockpit display cues that point the pilot back toward the horizon.
Example Sentence 1
When the pilot saw red chevrons pointing down on the PFD, he recognized an extreme nose-high attitude and smoothly lowered the nose to recover.
Example Sentence 2
The red chevrons remained visible until the aircraft returned to a level pitch attitude.