Plain English Meaning

Something the pilot picks out to look at — usually a spot on the horizon — and uses to keep the airplane pointed and tilted the way they want.

Full Definition

A fixed visual feature outside the airplane — such as a point on the horizon, a distant landmark, or a spot on the windshield aligned with the natural horizon — that the pilot uses as a steady visual cue to maintain a desired pitch attitude, heading, or bank during flight by outside reference.

Context Anchor

Used while looking outside the airplane during basic flight maneuvers, especially when learning to hold straight-and-level flight by sight.