Plain English Meaning

Set up and checked against a trusted standard so the instrument shows the right number, with any built-in errors accounted for.

Full Definition

Adjusted or marked against a known reference standard so that the instrument's readings correspond accurately to the actual quantity being measured, with predictable corrections applied for known errors.

Context Anchor

Seen in instrument flying when flight instruments are described as being set to a standard, such as an airspeed indicator or altimeter.

Derivation

From the Latin 'calibra,' related to measuring the bore (caliber) of a gun barrel against a standard. The idea carried over into instruments: check it against a known reference and adjust until it reads true.

Why Pilots Care

Using a calibrated prevents errors in calculations that affect margins, , and .