Descent General Aviation Primary Flight Display 
Pilot Institute
DECEMBER 12, 2024
If you’re in a modern, fancy airplane with glass primary flight displays instead of round dials, then it uses something called an Air Data Computer to show these readings. As the name implies, the VSI shows the rate of the aircrafts climb or descent. It shows the rate of climb or descent in feet per minute.
Pilot Institute
JULY 4, 2025
You also get visual cues on the cockpit display, usually on the vertical speed indicator (VSI). The areas marked red on the VSI show climb or descent rates that can put you on a collision course. Green markings show the climb or safe climb, or descent rates. TCAS RAs can only tell you to climb or descend. This is by design.
Pilot Institute
FEBRUARY 15, 2025
LNAV Approach An LNAV (Lateral Navigation) approach helps guide you left and right toward the runway, but it doesnt tell you how to control your descent. Instead of a Decision Height (DH), youll use something called a Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA). Theyre only meant to keep the descent stable. Thats up to you! Easy, right?
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