Definition
A flight instrument, part of the pitot-static system, that displays the rate at which an aircraft is climbing or descending, expressed in feet per minute. It senses the rate of change of static air pressure and shows zero in level flight, a positive value during a climb, and a negative value during a descent.
Plain English
A cockpit gauge that tells the pilot how fast the aircraft is going up or coming down, measured in feet per minute.
Context Anchor
Seen on the instrument panel during climbs, descents, level-offs, and instrument flying.
Why Pilots Care
Enables precise control of climb and descent rates required for traffic separation, terrain clearance, and stabilized approaches.
Grounding Statement
If the indication is above zero, the airplane is climbing; if it is below zero, the airplane is descending; if it is near zero, altitude is staying about the same.
Intuition Check
Vertical speed is not the airplane’s forward speed. It is only the rate of altitude change: how fast the airplane is moving upward or downward.
Example Sentence 1
After leveling off at 6,500 feet, the pilot watched the vertical-speed indicator settle on zero.
Example Sentence 2
During the instrument approach, the vertical-speed indicator confirmed a steady 500 feet-per-minute descent.