Definition
A style of cockpit position indicator that uses a small movable tab or pointer sliding along a fixed scale to show the current setting of a flight control surface or system, such as flaps, trim, or landing gear. The tab moves in proportion to the actual position of the surface, giving the pilot a continuous visual reference of where that surface is set.
Plain English
A small marker that slides along a marked scale in the cockpit to show how far something — like the flaps or trim — has been moved.
Context Anchor
Seen in cockpit discussions of landing gear controls and position indications.
Derivation
From 'tab', meaning a small projecting strip or marker. The indicator is named after the small tab-shaped pointer that slides along the scale.
Why Pilots Care
Precise knowledge of control-surface positions is required for proper aircraft configuration, performance calculations, and avoidance of takeoff or landing incidents caused by incorrect settings.
Intuition Check
Do not read tab here as a browser tab or a trim tab on a control surface. Here, a tab is a small marker that shows position.
Example Sentence 1
Before takeoff, the pilot glanced at the tab-type indicator to confirm the flaps were set to 10 degrees.
Example Sentence 2
During the approach checklist the tab-type indicators showed the elevator trim was still in the takeoff position.