artificial horizon

noun

Meaning

A flight instrument that displays the aircraft's attitude relative to the earth's horizon, allowing pilots to maintain level flight without visual references.

Examples

  • When entering a dense fog bank, the pilot relied solely on the artificial horizon to keep the wings level.
  • A malfunctioning artificial horizon can lead to spatial disorientation during instrument flight conditions.

Synonyms: attitude indicator, gyro horizon, flight director, attitude gyro