Definition
The readings, displays, or signals presented by an aircraft instrument that show the current state of a measured value, such as airspeed, altitude, attitude, heading, engine performance, or system status.
Plain English
What the instruments are showing you. The numbers, needles, lights, or symbols that tell you how the aircraft and its systems are performing right now.
Context Anchor
Seen throughout instrument flying when a pilot reads the flight instruments and compares what they show to what the airplane is doing.
Derivation
From the Latin 'indicare,' meaning 'to point out' or 'to show.' An instrument indication is literally what the instrument is pointing out to the pilot.
Why Pilots Care
Pilots fly the aircraft based on what the instruments indicate, especially in cloud or at night when outside references are unavailable. Recognizing normal versus abnormal indications is central to safe flight, and misreading or ignoring an indication is a common factor in instrument-related incidents.
Intuition Check
Do not read “indications” as vague hints or guesses. In this context, indications are the actual information shown by an aircraft instrument or system.
Example Sentence 1
During the climb, the pilot scanned the engine indications and confirmed oil pressure and temperature were within normal limits.
Example Sentence 2
Erroneous indications from a failed vacuum pump required the pilot to switch to partial-panel procedures.