Definition
On a Primary Flight Display (PFD), a triangle divided into two halves used as the airspeed reference marker (bug) on the airspeed tape. One half indicates the currently selected target airspeed; the full triangle aligns with the actual airspeed when the aircraft is flying the selected speed. It provides a quick visual cue showing the difference between commanded and actual airspeed.
Plain English
A small two-tone triangle on the airspeed strip of a glass cockpit display. It marks the speed you've told the system you want to fly, so you can see at a glance whether you're faster, slower, or right on it.
Context Anchor
Seen on the primary flight display during the instrument scan, near the top of the attitude display and bank scale.
Derivation
“Split” means divided into parts, and “triangle” means a three-sided shape. The name is visual: the display symbol looks like a triangle separated into two pieces, and the alignment of those pieces gives the pilot useful information.
Why Pilots Care
It allows the pilot to monitor airspeed against a target speed (such as a climb, approach, or maneuvering speed) without doing mental math. A glance shows whether a correction is needed.
Intuition Check
Do not read it as a warning triangle. In this context, the split triangle symbol is a flight reference mark that helps show bank and sideways sliding in a turn.
Example Sentence 1
After leveling off, the pilot adjusted power until the airspeed indicator aligned with the split triangle symbol set at 110 knots.
Example Sentence 2
During the scan, the pilot confirmed the split triangle symbol showed a slight nose-up attitude consistent with the assigned altitude.