Variometer

A variometer (also known as a rate of climb and descent Indicator (RCDI), rate-of-climb indicator, vertical speed indicator (VSI), or vertical velocity indicator (VVI)) is one of the flight instruments in an aircraft used to inform the pilot of the near instantaneous (rather than averaged) rate of descent or climb. It can be calibrated in feet per minute, knots (1 kn ≈ 100 ft/min) or metres per second (1 m/s ≈ 200 ft/min), depending on country and type of aircraft.