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the airplane’s vertical axis (yaw) is an attitude relative to the airplane’s direction of flight but not relative to the natural horizon. 

Controlling an airplane requires one of two methods to determine the airplane’s attitude in reference to the horizon. When flying “visually” in visual meteorological conditions (VMC), a pilot uses their eyes and visually references the airplane’s wings and cowling to establish the airplane’s attitude to the natural horizon (a visible horizon). If no visible horizon can be seen due to whiteouts, haze over the ocean, night over a dark ocean, etc., it is IMC for practical and safety purposes. [Figure 3-4]  When flying in IMC or when cross-checking the visual references, the airplane’s attitude is controlled by the pilot referencing the airplane’s mechanical or electronically generated instruments to determine the airplane’s attitude in relationship to the natural horizon. 

Airplane attitude control is composed of four components: pitch control, bank (roll) control, power control, and trim. 

• Pitch control—controlling of the airplane’s pitch attitude about the lateral axis by using the elevator to raise and lower the nose in relation to the natural horizon or to the airplane’s flight instrumentation. 

• Bank control—controlling of the airplane about the airplane’s longitudinal axis by use of the ailerons to attain a desired bank angle in relation to the natural horizon or to the airplane’s instrumentation. 

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• Power control—in most general aviation (GA) airplanes is controlled by the throttle and is used when the flight situation requires a specific thrust setting or for a change in thrust to meet a specific objective. 

• Trim control—used to relieve the control pressures held by the pilot on the flight controls after a desired attitude has been attained. 

Note: Yaw control is used to cancel out the effects of yaw induced changes, such as adverse yaw and effects of the propeller. 

## Integrated Flight Instruction 

When introducing basic flight maneuvers to a beginning pilot, it is recommended that the “Integrated” or “Composite” method of flight instruction be used. This means the use of outside references and flight instruments to establish and maintain desired flight attitudes and airplane performance. [Figure 3-5]  When beginning pilots use this technique, they achieve a more precise and competent overall piloting ability. Although this method of airplane control may become second nature with experience, the beginning pilot must make a determined effort to master the technique. 

As the beginner pilot develops a competent skill in visual reference flying, the flight instructor should further develop the beginner pilot’s effectiveness through the use of integrated flight instruction; however, it is important that the beginner pilot’s visual skills be sufficiently developed for long-term, safe, and effective aircraft control. [Figure 3-5] 

The basic elements of integrated flight instruction are as follows: 

• The pilot visually controls the airplane’s attitude in reference outside to the natural horizon. At least 90 percent of the pilot’s attention should be devoted to outside visual references and scanning for airborne traffic. The process of visually evaluating pitch and bank attitude is nearly an imperceptible continuous stream of attitude information. If the attitude is found to be other than desired, the pilot should make precise, smooth, and accurate flight control corrections to return the airplane to the desired attitude. Continuous visual checks of the outside references and immediate corrections made by the pilot minimize the chance for the airplane to deviate from the desired heading, altitude, and flightpath. 

• The airplane’s attitude is validated by referring to flight instruments and confirming performance. If the flight instruments display that the airplane’s performance is in need of correction, the required correction must be determined and then precisely, 

