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Aviation glossary

Calibrated Airspeed

What is calibrated airspeed?

FAA handbook figure illustrating calibrated airspeed

Calibrated airspeed (CAS) is your indicated airspeed corrected for instrument and installation (position) errors. The Pilot's Operating Handbook/Airplane Flight Manual provides a chart or graph to convert indicated airspeed to CAS for various flap and landing gear configurations, and the errors are most significant at low airspeeds. Think of it as "cleaned-up" indicated airspeed—the next step toward true airspeed.

Also known as: CAS, calibrated airspeed

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