Which flight instrument shows how fast the aircraft is climbing or descending?

The Rate-of-Climb Indicator is specifically designed to measure and display the vertical speed of the aircraft, indicating how quickly the aircraft is climbing or descending. This instrument provides crucial information to pilots, as it allows them to maintain a desired climb rate during ascent or a controlled descent when landing.

Understanding this rate of climb is essential for managing flight safety, particularly when navigating in different airspace and handling challenging flight situations. The reading is typically expressed in feet per minute (fpm) or meters per second (m/s), enabling pilots to make informed decisions about altitude changes in relation to air traffic control instructions, weather conditions, and performance requirements.

Other instruments, such as the altimeter or airspeed indicator, serve different functions. The altimeter measures the aircraft's altitude above sea level, while the airspeed indicator gauges the speed of the aircraft relative to the surrounding air. The angle of attack sensor shows the angle between the aircraft's wing and the oncoming air, which is important for stall awareness but not directly related to climb or descent rates.