Plain English Meaning

The gauges or screens in the cockpit that tell the pilot how the airplane is flying -- how high, how fast, which direction, and whether it is level, climbing, descending, or turning.

Full Definition

The cockpit instruments that display information about the airplane's attitude, altitude, airspeed, heading, vertical speed, and turn or bank. Traditionally arranged as a six-pack of analog gauges, they may also appear as electronic displays on a primary flight display (PFD).

Context Anchor

Seen during the visual preflight assessment and anytime the pilot checks the cockpit instruments before or during .