Which statement best describes CAS and TAS?

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Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes CAS and TAS?

Airspeed readings are about speed through the air, not over the ground. The airspeed indicator shows the indicated airspeed, which is affected by how the instrument is installed and any position errors. Calibrated airspeed takes that reading and corrects for those instrument and installation errors, giving a more accurate measure of speed relative to the surrounding air with the instrument system functioning properly. True airspeed goes further: it takes the calibrated airspeed and adjusts for how dense the air is, which changes with altitude and temperature. At higher altitudes, the air is thinner, so for the same CAS you actually move faster through the air, meaning TAS is higher and depends on density and altitude. So the best description is: CAS corrects for instrument/installation errors; TAS is the actual speed through the air, dependent on density and altitude. The other statements mix up the relationships. TAS is not the calibrated airspeed, and CAS does not represent the actual airspeed without accounting for instrument errors. Also CAS and TAS are not identical at all times because density changes with altitude.

Airspeed readings are about speed through the air, not over the ground. The airspeed indicator shows the indicated airspeed, which is affected by how the instrument is installed and any position errors. Calibrated airspeed takes that reading and corrects for those instrument and installation errors, giving a more accurate measure of speed relative to the surrounding air with the instrument system functioning properly.

True airspeed goes further: it takes the calibrated airspeed and adjusts for how dense the air is, which changes with altitude and temperature. At higher altitudes, the air is thinner, so for the same CAS you actually move faster through the air, meaning TAS is higher and depends on density and altitude.

So the best description is: CAS corrects for instrument/installation errors; TAS is the actual speed through the air, dependent on density and altitude.

The other statements mix up the relationships. TAS is not the calibrated airspeed, and CAS does not represent the actual airspeed without accounting for instrument errors. Also CAS and TAS are not identical at all times because density changes with altitude.

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