The Four Different Types of Airspeed
Skip To Content
  • (801) 845.9955
    info@elevate-aviation.com
  • M - F 8am - 5pm
    Saturday & Sunday CLOSED
Main Content

The Four Different Types of Airspeed

A+ A- A

Airplane controlsIf you’re considering a career as a professional pilot, it’s important that you understand the four different types of airspeed. This information will allow you to be a safer and more confident pilot. In this article, we will discuss the four types of airspeed and some information about each of them.

Four Types of Airspeed

  • Groundspeed – It’s important that you know that the speed shown on your plane’s indicator might not be the actual speed of your aircraft. Wind and other factors can affect the true speed of your aircraft.
  • True Airspeed – True speed is a measure of the speed of your aircraft in relation to the airflow around it. Obviously, the true speed will vary depending on the air density, which will vary depending on the altitude!
  • Indicated Airspeed – Indicated airspeed (also known as IAS) is very important. This is because it will indicate the minimum and maximum airspeed that your particular aircraft is capable of safely operating within.
  • Calibrated Airspeed – Also known as CAS, the calibrated airspeed will account for any positional error that your aircraft may experience.

These things are important to know. For example, if your airspeed indication shows a stall speed of 55 knots IAS, your aircraft could actually stall at a CAS of 60 knots. The differences between CAS and IAS can depend on the type of aircraft you’re operating as well as many other factors.

Here at Elevate Aviation, we want to make sure that our students feel comfortable operating their aircraft. For more information about learning to become a professional pilot, please contact our Salt Lake City Cirrus training and flight school today!

Posted on Apr 12, 2018
Image Credit:

Cirrus Aircraft Royalty Free

Share:

Archives

Mar 27, 2023, 10:40 PM
If you have ever dreamed of soaring through the skies, learning to fly is an excellent way to turn that dream into a reality.…
Mar 13, 2023, 9:16 PM
Managing your aircraft can be daunting if you're a private plane owner. There are many things to consider, from scheduling…
Feb 27, 2023, 10:56 PM
Click here to read all the reasons why you should purchase a tour flight. Read on to know more.
Feb 13, 2023, 9:45 PM
Many spots and locations in Utah are too vast and majestic to be covered by foot in one go. You may spend hours on foot and…
Jan 9, 2023, 3:36 PM
Flying an aircraft or jet is one of the most expensive hobbies. However, you don’t need to own a plane to fly one. Depending…