Pitch and flight path

The nose can point above the horizon while the aircraft is flying level or descending. Pitch attitude and flight path are different indications.

Read attitude

Use the fixed aircraft reference, horizon and pitch markings to understand where the nose points.

Find the flight-path vector

FSS describes a green symbol showing the current flight path relative to the horizon.

Compare the two

In a stable climb, level flight or descent, notice the separation between the attitude reference and the flight-path vector.

Read the guidance cue

FSS describes a magenta flight-director cue associated with the flight-path vector. TO guidance uses a different crossbar presentation; verify the active mode.

Takeoff guidance cue

Use the director guidance while checking actual path, speed, thrust and FMA. A cue is a command, not a substitute for aircraft performance.

Flight-path cue and TO guidance

Takeoff crossbars and the flight-path guidance cue are different presentations. Read the active mode and the cues in your aircraft.

The green tape at the left wing of the flight-path vector shows the difference between current and selected airspeed: below the wing means below target; above it means above target. With the flight director selected, an acceleration pointer moves up as acceleration increases and down as it decreases. These indications do not replace the airspeed tape.

FSS describes a pitch-limit indicator for low-speed, high-angle-of-attack flight. Its stated display conditions are airborne, above 200 ft radio altitude and calibrated airspeed at or below 1.2 Vs. Green indicates more than 5° remaining to the stick shaker, amber 5° or less, and red an active stick shaker. Check the indication in your installed build. ^[129]