What information does a DME provide for aircraft navigation?

The Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) is specifically designed to provide pilots with accurate distance information from a ground-based navigation facility, typically a VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) station or an associated DME station. When using DME, the aircraft's onboard equipment calculates the slant range distance to the DME station, allowing pilots to determine how far they are from that specific navigation aid. This distance information is crucial for navigation and helps in planning flight paths, maintaining situational awareness, and ensuring proper spacing during approaches and landings.

The other options do not accurately reflect the primary function of DME. For example, altitude data is provided by altimeters, track heading is derived from the aircraft's compass or instruments that indicate the current heading, and rate of climb information comes from vertical speed indicators. Each of these instruments plays a distinct role in navigation and aircraft performance monitoring, but none serve the specific purpose of measuring distance to a navigation aid like DME does.