airspeed

Airspeed is the speed of an aircraft relative to the air around it. Unlike ground speed, which measures how fast the plane is moving over the ground, airspeed reflects how quickly it moves through the air itself. It’s important for flight safety and performance because the lift generated by the wings depends on airspeed, not ground speed. Pilots typically monitor different types of airspeed, such as indicated, true, and ground speed, to ensure safe and efficient operation during flight.