Definition
An airspeed display on a glass cockpit primary flight display that presents speed as a vertical moving scale (a 'tape') alongside the attitude indicator. The current airspeed is read against a fixed pointer or window in the center of the tape, while the numbers scroll up or down as speed changes. Color-coded bands and bugs along the tape mark operating ranges and reference speeds.
Plain English
The airspeed display in a glass cockpit, shown as a sliding vertical strip of numbers next to the attitude display. The number lined up in the middle is the airplane's current speed.
Context Anchor
Seen on electronic flight displays in aircraft with glass-panel instruments, especially while scanning the main flight instruments during takeoff, climb, approach, and landing.
Derivation
Called a 'tape' because the scrolling vertical strip of numbers resembles a measuring tape running past a fixed window. The pilot reads whichever number is currently aligned with the reference mark.
Why Pilots Care
Gives continuous, at-a-glance airspeed information needed to stay within safe speed ranges during every phase of flight.
Intuition Check
Do not think of “tape” as sticky tape or a recording tape here. In this instrument, “tape” means a vertical strip-style display of airspeed numbers.
Example Sentence 1
As the aircraft accelerated down the runway, the numbers on the airspeed tape indicator rolled upward past the rotation speed bug.
Example Sentence 2
On final approach the airspeed tape indicator showed the target speed for the landing configuration.