Pilot Institute

NOVEMBER 16, 2024

If you’re aiming to get comfortable with managing both airspeed and altitude in flight, you’ll need to understand the difference between indicated airspeed (IAS) and true airspeed (TAS). Key Takeaways Airspeed and altitude are directly linked to each other throughout different phases of your flight. Why is that?

True Airspeed 52

True Airspeed Indicated Airspeed Altimeter Lift 52

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

Naturally, my first officer and I got a good laugh from this as our 757 was cruising along effortlessly at about 300 knots indicated airspeed, and was not yawing towards the supposedly dead engine. We were nearing the LAX airport at 18,000 feet and starting to get busy with the descent into SAN.

Indicated Airspeed 98

Indicated Airspeed Air Traffic Control Airplanes Descent 98

Fear of Landing

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

The ATR’s airspeed was 191 knots. The CRUISE SPEED LOW is the first level of APM alert, and means that the indicated airspeed is at least ten knots slower than the predicted speed for their current configuration. The crew acknowledged and said that they were at the ideal point of descent and waiting for clearance.

Knot 86

Knot Approach Descent Weather 86

Chess In the Air

JUNE 24, 2022

Under normal circumstances Shmulik would have had sufficient altitude to delay the landing by several minutes: his glider’s minimum descent rate in still air was just 100 fpm. Even a more typical descent rate of 200 fpm would have allowed Shmulik to hold for about 5-7 minutes before he would have had to proceed with the landing.

Pilot 52

Pilot AGL Wind Shear Runway 52

Air Facts

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024

To get the extra lift required for the turns, I had to dive to get extra airspeed so that the plane could turn at that same AOA. One more gadget in the cockpit cannot remedy deficits in skill, judgement, and attitude. Optimum” glide was not the issue here, and a visual AOA indicator would have had no value.

General Aviation 98

General Aviation Pilot Approach Airplanes 98