Plain English Meaning

It's the airspeed number you actually see on the cockpit dial. It's not corrected for anything — it's the raw reading. For approach categories, the FAA uses this raw landing-approach speed to sort aircraft into groups that determine which approach minimums apply.

Full Definition

Indicated airspeed (IAS) is the speed of an aircraft as shown directly on the airspeed indicator, before any corrections for instrument error, installation error, air density, or compressibility. It is derived from the difference between ram air pressure (from the ) and , and is to read under sea- . In the context of , IAS values such as or at maximum are used to assign each aircraft to a (A through E) that determines applicable approach minimums.