What happens to an aircraft's indicated airspeed when temperatures are high?

When temperatures are high, the indicated airspeed of an aircraft typically decreases. This phenomenon is related to the principles of aerodynamics and the behavior of air density. As temperature increases, the density of the air decreases. Since indicated airspeed is a measurement that reflects how an aircraft interacts with the surrounding air, lower air density means that the aircraft must move faster to achieve the same aerodynamic effects.

In practical terms, this means that for a given true airspeed, indicated airspeed will be lower in high temperatures compared to standard conditions. Pilots must be aware of this adjustment, as it can affect performance calculations, such as takeoff and landing distances, and overall flight operations. In contrast, cooler temperatures increase air density, resulting in a higher indicated airspeed for the same true airspeed.

Thus, when analyzing the effects of temperature on indicated airspeed, it’s clear that increased temperatures lead to a decrease in indicated airspeed due to the decrease in air density.