Which phrase helps pilots to avoid a nose-up illusion during takeoff?

Using visual cues on the horizon is essential for pilots to maintain proper orientation during the critical phases of flight, particularly takeoff. This phrase helps mitigate the nose-up illusion, which can occur when pilots perceive a climb or excessive pitch attitude due to visual references that may be misleading, especially in poor visibility conditions or when transitioning from ground to air.

By focusing on visual references like the horizon, pilots can better judge their aircraft's angle of attack and ensure they are not inadvertently pulling back on the control yoke or stick too aggressively. This practice promotes a more stable ascent, maintaining safe airspeed and reducing the risk of stalling due to misperceptions of the aircraft's attitude.

The other options, while important for overall takeoff performance, do not specifically target the avoidance of the nose-up illusion in the same direct manner as using visual cues does. For example, increasing thrust smoothly is vital for performance, maintaining a level attitude is good for stability, and rotating at the correct speed is crucial for safety, but they do not address the visual and perceptual aspect that can lead to the nose-up illusion during takeoff.