The 4 Types Of Airspeed, And What

Each One Means For You

By Boldmethod | 07/28/2022 | Previous | Next

This story was made in partnership with Envoy Air. Check out
the full series here. Ready to apply? Submit your application
here.

Airspeed is more than simply reading off your airspeed

indicator. Here are the 4 types of airspeed, and what
each means for your flying...

1) Indicated Airspeed (IAS)

This one's pretty simple. It's read right off your airspeed
indicator and is usually what you'll reference in the
cockpit for speed changes. The speed limits of the sky,
like not exceeding 250 knots below 10,000 feet MSL, are
all written as indicated airspeed values.

2) True Airspeed (TAS)

True airspeed is the speed of your aircraft relative to the
air it's flying through. As you climb, true airspeed is
higher than your indicated airspeed. Pressure decreases
with higher altitudes, so for any given true airspeed, as
you climb, fewer and fewer air molecules will enter the
pitot tube. Because of that, indicated airspeed will be
less than true airspeed. In fact, for every thousand feet
above sea level, true airspeed is about 2% higher than
indicated airspeed. So at 10,000 feet, true airspeed is
roughly 20% faster than what you read off your
airspeed indicator.

Many aircraft, such as those with gas turbine engines,

can reach a higher TAS at higher altitudes because their
engines are more efficient at higher altitudes.

59%Pover
DNHiof LIBIV DIS8.1h4ETE03:28COH1Rox118.075+130.250
GPS YDVPTH ALTS COn2RX124.550 118.325

E1100011000
160
14100
150
=14000-1
Targ -UU
135 713880
1314 138002
(900)
120 13700

110 260°
13600
OS141KTTAS168KT 30.13

3766ALTI UTC 23-4443

OAT-11°C XPOR TOENT ITHR/REF ALERTS
CDT
INSETSENSORPFD

Boldmethod

3) Groundspeed (GS)
The movement of your airplane relative to the ground is
called groundspeed. It's true airspeed corrected for
wind. With a true airspeed of 100 knots and a tailwind of
20 knots, you'd be flying a groundspeed of 120 knots.

If you shot a police radar gun at a plane flying by, you'd

be measuring groundspeed of the airplane, assuming the
officer was stationary.

Boldmethod

4) Calibrated Airspeed (CAS)

Calibrated airspeed is indicated airspeed corrected for
instrument and positional errors. At certain airspeeds and
with certain flap settings, the installation and instrument
errors may total several knots. This error is generally
greatest at low airspeeds, with nose high pitch attitudes.

When flying at sea level under International Standard

Atmosphere (ISA) conditions (15 degrees Celsius, 29.92
inches of mercury, 0% humidity), calibrated airspeed is
the same as true airspeed. If there is no wind it is also
the same as ground speed.

Boldmethod

Want to learn more about how your airspeed indicator

works? Click here.

Ready to launch your airline career? Get started by

applying to Envoy Air today.

Become a better pilot.

Subscribe to the Boldmethod email and get real-world
flying tips and information direct to your inbox, every
week.

Your Email Sign Up

Like 0 Share

2 comments

Sort by Newest

Add a comment...

Jagrata Banerjee
The four types of airspeed
should be Indicated
Airspeed (IAS), Calibrated
Airspeed (CAS),
Equivalent Airspeed
(EAS), and True Airspeed
(TAS).
The ground speed is not a
type of airspeed.
Like · Reply · Mark as spam ·
7 · 37w

Andrew Kernytsky
When approach asks for
your airpspeed, which one
are they interestd in? I've
given IAS and TAS at
different times and not
gotten a clear answer
from them about which
they want. I would think
TAS would be more useful
for sequencing / spacing
considerations if planes
are at different altitudes.
Like · Reply · Mark as spam ·
1 · 37w

Austin DiCola
AIM 4-4-12 (b):
"ATC will express
all speed
adjustments in
terms of knots
based on
indicated
airspeed." It
doesn't answer
your question
directly regarding
what ATC is
looking for when
they request your
speed, but it
seems reasonable
that if they issue
speed restrictions
in IAS, then they
will expect speed
information in IAS.
Like · Reply · Mark
as spam · 37w

Facebook Comments Plugin

Images Courtesy:
Boldmethod, Boldmethod, Boldmethod, Boldmethod,
Boldmethod, Boldmethod, Boldmethod, Boldmethod,
Boldmethod
Previous Next

Recommended Stories

8 Steps To Make Your First Before You Land On An

Solo Landing Perfectly Instrument Approach, You
Smooth Need To See One Of These 10
Things

3 Ways To Check TFRs Before 3 Reasons Microbursts Are

Your Next Flight More Hazardous In The
Mountains

Latest Stories

Preventive Maintenance: Here's What You Can Fix On

Your Plane
As a certificated pilot, you can fix over 31 maintenance items on
your airplane. Here's what they are, and how the process works.
Article | Swayne Martin | 04/18/2023

8 Steps To Make Your First Solo Landing Perfectly

Smooth
Your first solo flight? It's an experience you'll never forget...
List | Corey Komarec | 04/18/2023

Quiz: Can You Answer These 5 Private Pilot Checkride

Questions?
Let's get this started!
Quiz | Boldmethod | 04/17/2023

Landing In Turbulence: How To Make Smooth

Touchdown
Turbulence is a reality of flying. Here's how to fly the best
approach possible through rough air.
Article | Boldmethod | 04/15/2023

Before You Land On An Instrument Approach, You Need

To See One Of These 10 Things
If you've taken any instrument training, you probably know that
you need three things to land on an instrument approach...
List | Colin Cutler | 04/15/2023

Quiz: Can You Answer These 6 Airspace Questions?

Good luck!
Quiz | Colin Cutler | 04/14/2023

How To Go Missed From A Circling Approach

Landing from a circling approach can be challenging for a few
reasons.
Article | Swayne Martin | 04/13/2023

3 Ways To Check TFRs Before Your Next Flight

Know where the TFRs are so you don't fly through one...
List | Corey Komarec | 04/13/2023

Quiz: Do You Know These 6 Uncommon VFR Chart

Symbols?
You don't see these every day...
Quiz | Boldmethod | 04/12/2023

Dihedral: Why Your Wings Have An Upward Angle

Dihedral is the upward angle of the wings (or tail surface) from a
horizontal axis.
Article | Colin Cutler | 04/11/2023

Load More
List Aerodynamics Getting Started Light Aircraft Performance

Systems

Improve your pilot skills. Get Boldmethod flying

tips and videos direct to your inbox.

Your Email

Sign Up

Support
support@boldmethod.com
720-663-7754

Contact
info@boldmethod.com
720-663-7754
facebook.com/boldmethod
YouTube
More

About
About Boldmethod

© 2023 Boldmethod, LLC Terms and Policies

Contact Us