Definition
An aircraft instrument that displays a measured value using a moving pointer (needle) sweeping across a fixed scale, rather than showing the value as a digital number readout.
Plain English
A gauge with a needle that moves across a dial, like a traditional clock face or car speedometer, instead of showing the value as digits on a screen.
Context Anchor
Seen on aircraft instrument panels and in maintenance instructions for readings such as pressure, temperature, fuel quantity, or position.
Derivation
Analog comes from the Greek analogos, meaning 'proportional' or 'corresponding.' The needle's position is directly proportional to the value being measured -- it represents the quantity by physical correspondence rather than by displaying a number.
Why Pilots Care
Analog indicators let a pilot see trends and rates of change at a glance. A sweeping needle reveals whether a value is rising, falling, or stable much faster than reading changing digits, which matters during scans and abnormal situations.
Analogy
It works like an old-style clock face: you understand the value by looking at where the hand points, not by reading a digital number.
Intuition Check
"Analog-type" does not just mean old or non-electronic. Here it means the value is shown by position or movement on a scale.
Example Sentence 1
The oil pressure analog-type indicator showed the needle steady in the green arc throughout the run-up.
Example Sentence 2
Older aircraft often retain analog-type indicators for engine instruments even after partial glass cockpit upgrades.