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Symbols, Abbreviations and Terminology

The following is a collection of terms that you need to be familiar with. You should familiarize yourself with these abreviations, because you will be using them for the rest of your flying days. These are not specific to the Cessna 172. These are terms that apply to all aircraft. When you start flying larger aircraft, you will be introduced to some additional terms.

Airspeed Terminology and Symbols

KCAS   (Knots Calibrated Airspeed)
  • An indicated airspeed corrected for position and instrument error expressed in knots. Calibrated airspeed is equal to true airspeed (TAS), at sea level in a standard atmosphere.


    • * When the aircraft's flight characteristics are changed with flaps and slips, the air strikes the pitot tube in a different way. This will change the reading on the airspeed indicator. These new airspeeds can be found in the Calibrated Airspeed Chart.

    KIAS   (Knots Indicated Airspeed)
  • Indicated airspeed is the speed in knots read directly off the airspeed indicator.


    • KTAS   (Knots True Airspeed)
  • Calibrated airspeed, relative to undisturbed air, corrected for altitude and temperature.


    • * As altitude increases, air density decreases. Less air resistance allows for the aircraft to move less restricted by drag. Less drag means faster airspeeds. True airspeed increase approximately 2 knots per thousand feet of altitude increase. Temperature has the same effect as altitude when it comes to air density.


    VA   (Maneuvering Speed)
  • Maneuvering speed is the maximum speed that an aircraft should be operated at with full and abrupt control movements without overstressing the airframe.


    • VFE   (Maximum Flap Extended Speed)
  • Maximum allowable speed for a given flap position.

    • * Do not exceed this speed, you could experience flap damage or the flaps could possible blow back up.

    VNO   (Maximum Structural Cruising Speed)
  • Maximum speed for operating in smooth air.

    • * This speed should be exceeded with extreme caution.

    VNE   (Never Exceed Speed)
  • Maximum speed for the aircraft. This speed should never be exceeded under any condition.


    • VS   (Stalling Speed or the Minimum Steady Flight Speed)
  • Minimum speed at which the aircraft remains controllable.

    • * Any slower speed should result in a stall.

    VSO   (Stalling Speed or the Minimum Steady Flight Speed in a specified configuraton)
  • Minimum speed at which the aircraft remains controllable in a given configuration. The Cessna manual states it in the most forward CG.

    • * Any slower speed should result in a stall.


    VX   (Best Angle of Climb)
  • The speed that allows the aircraft to gain the most amount of altitude in the short horizontal distance.

    • * Climb at this speed to clear an obstacle on takeoff.

    VY   (Best Rate of Climb)
  • The speed that allows the aircraft to gain the most amount of altitude in the short amount of time.

    • * Climb at this speed to gain altitude in the shortest amount of time.
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