The rate of climb indicator is calibrated in thousands of feet per minute and indicates up to 6000 fpm. True or False?

• A. True; calibrated in thousands of feet per minute and indicates up to 6000 fpm.
• B. False; calibrated in tens of feet per minute.
• C. False; it indicates only in feet per minute.
• D. False; it does not display any units.

Answer: (A)

The rate of climb indicator is designed to show vertical speed in thousands of feet per minute, with the scale typically labeled in thousands and a maximum reading of 6.0, which corresponds to 6000 fpm. That means when you climb rapidly, the needle can reach up to 6000 feet per minute, and when you descend, it shows negative values in the same thousand-fpm units. This calibration makes it quick and easy to interpret climb performance at a glance, especially in dynamic flight situations.

So the statement is true because the instrument is built to display vertical speed in thousands of feet per minute and its top end is 6000 fpm. It wouldn’t align with tens of feet per minute, nor with displaying only feet per minute without the thousand-scale labeling, and it clearly shows units on the scale.