Definition
A flight regime, encountered on the back side of the power curve, in which the normal relationship between pitch, power, airspeed, and altitude is reversed: more back pressure (higher pitch) produces a lower airspeed and a higher rate of descent, and additional power is required just to maintain altitude at that slower speed. In this region, pitch primarily controls airspeed and power primarily controls altitude, the opposite of the relationship that holds at normal cruise speeds.
Plain English
When flying very slowly, the controls don't behave the way they usually do. Pulling back on the yoke makes the airplane go even slower and sink faster, not climb. To keep flying level at that slow speed, you have to add power. So the stick controls how fast you go, and the throttle controls whether you climb or descend.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying, slow flight, approach work, and discussions of flying on the back side of the power curve.
Derivation
Called "reversed" because the cause-and-effect relationship pilots learn at normal speeds is flipped. At cruise, raising the nose climbs the aircraft and lowering it descends; in this regime, raising the nose slows the aircraft until it sinks instead.
Why Pilots Care
Recognizing this region prevents mistakenly reducing power when slowing, which can lead to an unintended stall or loss of control.
Grounding Statement
Picture the airplane flying slowly with the nose high: it is still moving forward, but it is working harder to hold itself up.
Intuition Check
Reversed command does not mean the flight controls move backward or operate in the opposite direction. It means the usual relationship between slowing down and needing less power is reversed at very low airspeeds.
Example Sentence 1
On short final, the instructor reminded the student that they were operating in the region of reversed command, so any sink had to be corrected with power rather than back pressure.
Example Sentence 2
In slow-flight training the instructor showed how the reversed command region demands counterintuitive power increases to maintain speed.