Definition
Indicated Airspeed (IAS) is the speed shown directly on the airspeed indicator (ASI) in the cockpit, before any corrections are applied for instrument error, position error, air density, or compressibility. It reflects the dynamic pressure sensed by the pitot-static system at the moment of reading.
Plain English
It is simply the airspeed number you see on the dial in front of you — the raw reading, with nothing adjusted or corrected.
Context Anchor
You will see IAS in performance speed discussions, aircraft manuals, checklists, and cockpit speed callouts where the pilot is expected to fly the number shown on the airspeed indicator.
Derivation
Indicated' comes from the Latin 'indicare', meaning 'to point out' or 'to show'. The name is literal: it is the speed the instrument is pointing out — what the gauge shows, not what has been calculated or corrected.
Why Pilots Care
It is the immediate reference pilots use for cockpit decisions on takeoff, climb, approach, and landing speeds.
Grounding Statement
If the airspeed indicator needle points to 90 knots, the airplane is flying at 90 knots IAS.
Intuition Check
Do not assume “indicated” means exact or corrected. Here, “indicated” means shown by the instrument.
Example Sentence 1
On final approach, the pilot held an indicated airspeed of 65 knots as specified in the POH.
Example Sentence 2
Performance charts in the handbook list required speeds in terms of IAS.