Altitude tape and integral vertical speed indicator

A device for enhancing altitude awareness in an avionics display, comprising:

• an altitude indicator that displays a current altitude on the avionics display;
• a scrolling, scaled altitude tape that is displayed with the altitude indicator on the avionics display, wherein the altitude tape includes a plurality of scaled numbers that represent predetermined intervals of altitude levels adjacent the current altitude;
• a vertical speed indicator that is superimposed on the altitude tape, the vertical speed indicator being configured to display vertical speed;
• and
• a controller that causes the altitude indicator to display the current altitude on the avionics display and further causes the scrolling display to display the predetermined levels of altitude levels, wherein the controller further causes the vertical speed indicator to display vertical speed.

A method of enhancing altitude awareness in an avionics display, comprising:

• indicating a current altitude on the avionics display;
• displaying near the current altitude a scrolling display of scaled numbers that represent predetermined intervals of altitude levels that are adjacent to the current altitude;
• displaying a substantially continuous non-numeric graphic construct on either side of the scrolling display of scaled numbers;
• and
• varying the graphic construct to highlight the predetermined intervals of altitude levels.