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. Note: Yaw control is used to cancel out the effects of yaw  induced changes, such as adverse yaw and effects of the  propeller. 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.  Airplane attitude control is composed of four components:  pitch control, bank (roll) control, power control, and trim.  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: Figure 3-4.  Airplane attitude is based on relative positions of the  nose and wings on the natural horizon. • 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,  • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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.  Integrated Flight Instruction 3-5 Bank control Pitch control