飞行员在飞行时，特别是无外界视觉参考的仪表飞行时，必须参考飞行仪表的数据，才能顺畅地飞行。

飞机的飞行仪表依原理，可分为动静压仪表及陀螺仪表：

高度表 ：高度表（Altimeter）连接飞机静压管来测量大气压力，提供飞机高度的信息(以公尺及英呎为单位)。高度信息通常是显示海平面上高度。飞行员在飞行时，每飞过一地，要调整高度表的设置，为当地的气压表拨定值，高度表才能显示正确的高度。

空速表：空速表（Airspeed Indicator）连接至飞机的动压管及静压管，测量冲压空气的压力，转换为飞机的指示空速（Indicated Airspeed），单位通常为节。

Flight instruments are the instruments in the cockpit of an aircraft that provide the pilot with information about the flight situation of that aircraft, such as altitude, airspeed and direction. They improve safety by allowing the pilot to fly the aircraft in level flight, and make turns, without a reference outside the aircraft such as the horizon. Visual flight rules (VFR) require an airspeed indicator, an altimeter, and a compass or other suitable magnetic direction indicator. Instrument flight rules (IFR) additionally require a gyroscopic pitch-bank (artificial horizon), direction (directional gyro) and rate of turn indicator, plus a slip-skid indicator, adjustable altimeter, and a clock. Flight into Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) require radio navigation instruments for precise takeoffs and landings.