What does True Airspeed (TAS) represent?

True Airspeed (TAS) represents the speed of an aircraft through the air. This measurement is crucial for pilots and dispatchers as it indicates how fast the aircraft is moving relative to the air mass around it, regardless of the ground or wind conditions. TAS is important for navigation, performance calculations, and ensuring that the aircraft maintains the proper flight profile.

TAS is derived from the indicated airspeed (IAS) and is corrected for altitude and temperature variations. It differs from groundspeed, which is the speed of the aircraft relative to the ground, as well as from calibrated airspeed, which is IAS adjusted for instrument and installation errors. Thus, understanding True Airspeed is essential for accurately navigating and managing aircraft performance during flight.