Definition
In instrument flying, the secondary instruments a pilot scans to confirm and refine the pitch and bank information shown on the primary attitude reference. During straight-and-level flight, the supporting pitch instruments are the altimeter and vertical speed indicator, and the supporting bank instruments are the heading indicator and turn coordinator. Their role is to verify that the attitude being held is in fact producing the desired performance.
Plain English
These are the back-up instruments that show whether your pitch and bank are actually doing what you want. You set the attitude on the main attitude indicator, then check these to make sure the airplane is truly holding altitude and heading.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying when learning which instruments are primary and which are supporting during straight-and-level flight.
Derivation
Supporting' here means 'backing up' or 'providing evidence for.' These instruments support the primary pitch and bank reference by confirming what it is showing is producing the intended result.
Why Pilots Care
Prevents over-reliance on the attitude indicator and allows immediate detection of attitude deviations through supporting instrument confirmation.
Grounding Statement
In straight-and-level instrument flight, supporting pitch and bank information helps confirm that the airplane is staying level and pointed where intended.
Intuition Check
Do not read “supporting” as unimportant. Here it means the indication is not the main reference at that moment, but it still helps confirm the airplane’s pitch and bank.
Example Sentence 1
While holding straight-and-level on the attitude indicator, she cross-checked the supporting pitch and bank instruments and noticed the altimeter beginning to unwind.
Example Sentence 2
The heading indicator and turn coordinator act as supporting bank references when cross-checking the attitude indicator.