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True airspeed (TAS) compared to indicated airspeed (IAS) at altitude is generally

Choices

  • lower at high altitude.

    Reversed — TAS is HIGHER at altitude.

  • higher at high altitude.correct

    TAS increases ~2% per 1,000 ft above sea level under standard conditions, because lower air density means the IAS undersamples the actual airspeed. IAS is what the pitot-static reads from dynamic pressure. As altitude increases and air thins, the same dynamic pressure represents a higher TRUE airspeed. Rule of thumb: TAS ≈ IAS × (1 + 0.02 × altitude/1000) under ISA. At 10,000 ft, TAS is roughly 18-20% higher than IAS.

  • the same regardless of altitude.

    TAS varies with density.

  • exactly equal at 10,000 ft.

    10,000 ft has TAS ~20% above IAS.

Why

TAS increases ~2% per 1,000 ft above sea level under standard conditions, because lower air density means the IAS undersamples the actual airspeed. IAS is what the pitot-static reads from dynamic pressure. As altitude increases and air thins, the same dynamic pressure represents a higher TRUE airspeed. Rule of thumb: TAS ≈ IAS × (1 + 0.02 × altitude/1000) under ISA. At 10,000 ft, TAS is roughly 18-20% higher than IAS.

FAA source: PHAK Ch 8, Ch 11; PHAK Chapter 8 — Flight Instrumentsbrowse the reference library →

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Original study question written for this course — representative of FAA knowledge-test topics, not an actual current FAA exam question.

True airspeed (TAS) compared to indicated airspeed (IAS) at altitude… · PPL Free Ground School