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: 3-9 Figure 3-8.  Nose reference for level flight.  • A tight palm grip on the flight controls resulting in  a desensitized feeling of the hand and fingers, which  results in overcontrolling the airplane. • Not scanning outside the cockpit to look for other  aircraft traffic, weather and terrain influences, and  not maintaining situational awareness. • Mechanically pushing or pulling on the flight controls  rather than exerting accurate and smooth pressure to  affect change. • “Chasing”  the flight instruments rather than adhering  to the principles of attitude flying. • Attempting to establish or correct airplane attitude  using flight instruments rather than the natural horizon. • Forgetting the location of preselected reference points  on subsequent flights. • Attempting to use improper pitch and bank reference  points on the airplane to establish attitude. OBS W 33 24 21 30 NAV OBS W 33 24 21 30 33 30 24 21 W HDG OBS W 33 24 21 30 NAV OBS W 33 24 21 30 33 30 24 21 W HDG OBS W 33 24 21 30 NAV 33 30 Nose high Nose level Nose low Natural horizon reference point Natural horizon reference point Natural horizon reference point Fixed Fixed Fixed