Definition
A flight instrument 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 the result on a needle around a circular dial, with zero in the middle, climb readings above, and descent readings below.
Plain English
An instrument that tells the pilot how fast the aircraft is going up or down, measured in feet per minute.
Context Anchor
You see it on the instrument panel during takeoff, climb, descent, and any time you want to confirm whether the airplane is gaining or losing altitude.
Derivation
Vertical means up and down. Speed means rate of motion. Indicator means a device that shows something. So the name describes exactly what it does: it shows how fast you are moving up or down.
Why Pilots Care
Accurate vertical speed information supports precise climb gradients for obstacle clearance, stabilized approaches, and energy management during critical phases of flight.
Grounding Statement
If the vertical speed indicator shows a climb of 500 feet per minute, the airplane is gaining about 500 feet of altitude each minute if that rate continues.
Intuition Check
“Speed” here does not mean forward speed through the air. It means the rate at which altitude is increasing or decreasing.
Example Sentence 1
After leveling off at cruise altitude, the pilot checked the vertical speed indicator to confirm the needle was on zero.
Example Sentence 2
On final approach the pilot adjusted pitch to hold a constant 500 feet per minute on the vertical speed indicator.