Plain English Meaning

A height above the ground that gives you enough room to safely turn, climb, descend, or recover from a mistake without hitting anything below.

Full Definition

An altitude high enough above the surface and surrounding obstacles to allow the pilot to perform required flight maneuvers, recover from unexpected upsets or stalls, and complete any necessary corrective action without striking terrain or obstructions.

Context Anchor

Used when planning and practicing training maneuvers, especially ground reference maneuvers and other exercises done away from the normal traffic pattern.