Definition
Cockpit instrument displays that show how far the aircraft has traveled or how far it has yet to go, typically expressed in nautical miles. In modern avionics, range indicators are usually integrated with navigation systems (such as DME, GPS, or FMS) and present distance to a station, waypoint, or destination on a digital readout or moving map.
Plain English
Instruments that tell the pilot how far away something is — like a navigation station or the destination airport — usually shown in miles.
Context Anchor
Seen on navigation instruments and avionics displays when checking distance to a station, waypoint, or fix during instrument flight.
Derivation
Range comes from the Old French 'ranger,' meaning to arrange in a line or row, which evolved to mean 'distance covered.' In aviation, range refers to a measured distance — so a range indicator is simply an instrument that shows that distance.
Why Pilots Care
Knowing distance to a fix, station, or destination is essential for fuel planning, descent planning, position awareness, and meeting ATC crossing restrictions.
Intuition Check
Do not read range here as an airplane’s total fuel distance or operating limit. In this context, range means the distance from the aircraft to a selected navigation reference.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot checked the range indicator and saw 12 nautical miles to the next waypoint.
Example Sentence 2
As the aircraft neared the airport the range indicators steadily counted down to zero.