Flight Instruments

Heading indicator

Indicates whether the aircraft is climbing, descending, or in level flight. - The rate of climb or descent is indicated in feet per minute (fpm).
If properly calibrated, the VSI indicates zero in level flight.

White arc: AKA flap range, approaches and landings are usually flown at speeds within the white arc.
VS0: Lower limit of white arc — the stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration.
VFE: Upper limit of the white arc — the maximum speed with the flaps extended.
Green arc: the normal operating range of the aircraft. Most flying occurs within this range.
VS1: Lower limit of green arc, the stalling speed or the minimum steady flight speed in the clean configuration (gear up, if retractable, and flaps up).
VN0: Upper limit of green arc (VN0)—the maximum structural cruising speed. Do not exceed this speed except in smooth air.
Yellow arc: caution range. Fly within this range only in smooth air and then only with caution.
VNE: Red line — never exceed speed. Operating above this speed is prohibited since it may result in damage or structural failure.

Difference between true north and magnetic north
East is least, West is best: subtract easterly variation or add westerly variation

As one gets closer to the North or South Pole, compass magnets dip towards the low side of a turn.
This error isn’t much of a problem near the equator

In the Northern Hemisphere, as one accelerates, the compass will show a turn to the North and vice versa
ANDS: “Accelerate-North, Decelerate-South.”

During a turn from a Northerly heading, the compass briefly indicates a turn in the opposite direction.
During a turn from a Southerly heading, the compass indicates a turn in the correct direction, but at a faster rate than is actually being turned.
NOSE: “North-Opposite, South-Exaggerated.”