What does indicated airspeed (IAS) refer to?

What does indicated airspeed (IAS) refer to?

• A. Theoretical speed at sea level
• B. The speed indicated on the airspeed indicator
• C. The speed corrected for altitude
• D. The actual speed in flight

Answer: (B)

Indicated airspeed (IAS) refers to the speed that is displayed on the airspeed indicator within the cockpit of an aircraft. It is the measurement of the dynamic pressure that the aircraft is experiencing, which is directly related to the airflow over the aircraft's wings. IAS does not account for altitude or temperature variations and is critical for pilots to understand their aircraft's performance regarding stall speeds, maneuvering limits, and various airspeed scenarios during flight. This reading is crucial for safe aircraft operation and compliance with flight manuals. While the other options might touch upon aspects of airspeed, they do not accurately describe IAS itself. Theoretical speed at sea level and corrections for altitude and temperature relate more to true airspeed (TAS) and calibrated airspeed (CAS), which involve more complex calculations than simply reading the airspeed indicator.

Indicated airspeed (IAS) refers to the speed that is displayed on the airspeed indicator within the cockpit of an aircraft. It is the measurement of the dynamic pressure that the aircraft is experiencing, which is directly related to the airflow over the aircraft's wings. IAS does not account for altitude or temperature variations and is critical for pilots to understand their aircraft's performance regarding stall speeds, maneuvering limits, and various airspeed scenarios during flight. This reading is crucial for safe aircraft operation and compliance with flight manuals.

While the other options might touch upon aspects of airspeed, they do not accurately describe IAS itself. Theoretical speed at sea level and corrections for altitude and temperature relate more to true airspeed (TAS) and calibrated airspeed (CAS), which involve more complex calculations than simply reading the airspeed indicator.