Definition
The speed at which an aircraft is losing altitude, expressed in feet per minute (fpm). It is shown on the vertical speed indicator (VSI) as a downward reading.
Plain English
How fast the aircraft is going down, measured in feet per minute.
Context Anchor
Seen when discussing approaches, landings, climb-and-descent planning, and the vertical speed indication in the cockpit.
Derivation
Descent comes from a Latin word meaning “to climb down” or “to go down.” That helps because rate of descent is not about distance covered across the ground; it is about how quickly the aircraft is going downward.
Why Pilots Care
Controls safe descent profiles, prevents excessive sink rates, and avoids terrain or hard landings.
Analogy
It is like watching how fast an elevator is moving downward, not how far it has traveled across the building.
Intuition Check
Do not read “decent” as “good” or “acceptable” here. In aviation, the intended word is “descent,” meaning downward movement.
Example Sentence 1
On final approach, the pilot adjusted pitch and power to hold a 500 fpm rate of descent.
Example Sentence 2
A stabilized rate of decent allows the airplane to touch down softly at the intended point.