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the back pressure” or “increase pitch attitude” implies raising the airplane’s nose in relation to the natural horizon and the terms “decreasing the pitch attitude” or “decrease pitch attitude” means lowering the nose in relation to the natural horizon. The pilot’s primary reference is the natural horizon. 

For all practical purposes, the airplane’s airspeed remains constant in straight-and-level flight if the power setting is also constant. Intentional airspeed changes, by increasing or decreasing the engine power, provide proficiency in maintaining straight-and-level flight as the airplane’s airspeed is changing. Pitching moments may also be generated by extension and retraction of flaps, landing gear, and other drag producing devices, such as spoilers. Exposure to the effect of the various configurations should be covered in any specific airplane checkout. 

A common error of a beginner pilot is attempting to hold the wings level by only observing the airplane’s nose. Using this method, the nose’s short horizontal reference line can cause slight deviations to go unnoticed; however, deviations from level flight are easily recognizable when the pilot references the wingtips and, as a result, the wingtips should be the pilot’s primary reference for maintaining level bank attitude. This technique also helps eliminate the potential for flying the airplane with one wing low and correcting heading errors with the pilot holding opposite rudder. A pilot with a bad habit of dragging one wing low and compensating with opposite rudder pressure will have difficulty in mastering other flight maneuvers. 

Common errors in the performance of straight-and-level flight are: 

• Attempting to use improper pitch and bank reference points on the airplane to establish attitude. 

• Forgetting the location of preselected reference points on subsequent flights. 

• Attempting to establish or correct airplane attitude using flight instruments rather than the natural horizon. 

• “Chasing” the flight instruments rather than adhering to the principles of attitude flying. 

• Mechanically pushing or pulling on the flight controls rather than exerting accurate and smooth pressure to affect change. 

• Not scanning outside the cockpit to look for other aircraft traffic, weather and terrain influences, and not maintaining situational awareness. 

• A tight palm grip on the flight controls resulting in a desensitized feeling of the hand and fingers, which results in overcontrolling the airplane. 

