AVIATION HISTORY

Lecture 6: Flight Instruments

Introduction

History The very first aircraft had little or no flight

instruments All weather flying was risky Navigation depended on pilot’s ability to use

landmarks

Flying Instrument

As airmail pilots began flying at night and in all kinds of weather in 1920’s, new instruments were developed to enable the aircraft to fly.

Definition

‘Flight Instruments’ The instruments that used to display

aircraft information and to control the orientation of the aircraft during

flight.

Birth of Flight Instruments

September 24, 1929, First FLYING BLIND performed by Jimmy Doolittle’s.

Flying Blind means fly by the aid of Flight Instrument only, without a view outside the cockpit.

Early/New Flight Instruments Were Developed

1. Visual radio direction finder Using vibration system to direct the aircraft. The

closer the plane is to the beacon, the more intense the vibration.

2. Artificial horizon (Attitude Indicator) Showed the orientation of the flying aircraft in

relation to the ground (show how the wings were tilted, show whether aircraft nose up/down /level.

3. Barometric altimeter Showed how far the aircraft above the ground. They

will sensitively record the time and therefore the distance from the aircraft to the ground.

Why Flight Instruments Important

To enable the aircraft fly through the bad weather conditions and during night.

To ensure safety and reliable operation.

To give the early warning about any failure of aircraft’s system/part so that the pilot could take the immediate action.

Basic Flight Instruments

F-16 Falcon

Six Basic InstrumentsAirspeed Indicator Attitude Indicator Altimeter

Turn Indicator Heading Indicator Vertical Speed Indicator

1.Airspeed Indicator

Tells the pilot how fast the plane is going. To shows the aircraft's speed relative to the surrounding air. Speed is measured in knots. The airspeed can be calculated by measuring the

differences of air pressure. Air pressure is measure using

pitot-static system.

2. Altimeter To indicate how high the aircraft is from

sea level (altitude). Measured in feet. Also called as Altitude Altimeter. It works by measuring air pressure that enter

through pitot-static system. Air pressure increases and decreases as the

aircraft descends and climbs

3.Vertical Speed IndicatorTo display the vertical speed of the aircraft.It used to maintain proper rate of climb and rate of descendMeasured in feet per minute.

Rate of change is also measured based on air pressure differences through pitot-static system.

Pitot-static System PITOT-TUBE

4. Attitude Indicator

To show the aircraft's attitude relative to the horizon.

Also called as artificial horizon. Shows whether wings are level or not and

whether aircraft pitch up or down.

4. Attitude Indicator

How the attitude indicator works Uses a gyroscope mounted inside the

instrument case Gyroscope is a device, used to provide

stability or maintain a fixed orientation The gyro rotates in the horizontal plane in

relation to earth’s horizon This happens as the aircraft banks, climbs

and descends

Gyroscope: Device for measuring or maintaining orientation

Attitude Indicator Examples

5. Heading Indicator To displays aircraft heading/direction with

respect to earth’s magnetic north. Also called directional gyro (Use the

gyroscope) When the aircraft turns, the needle

indicates which direction it is heading. Measured in degrees (0-north, 90-west, 180-

south, and 270-east)

6. Turn Indicator To display direction of turn and rate of turn. Use the

gyroscope. For example, direction of roll while the aircraft is rolling. Measured in degrees per minute

Flight instruments all together have made Navigation easier Communication easier Fault detection and warning indication possible Take-offs and landings easier and most

important flying safer.

Summary

Question

What are the various instruments developed that had enabled aircraft to fly at night and in bad weather.

List four flight instruments found in an aircraft cockpit to assist the pilots in flying the aircraft.

Modern Flight Instruments

“Glass Cockpit”

B 777 Flight Deck A 320 – Flight Deck

Flight Deck of Modern Aircraft

Glass Cockpit History

1970: NASA conducted research on flight instruments displays

1982: The success of the NASA-led glass cockpit work is reflected in the total acceptance of electronic flight displays in Boeing 767.

By the end of the 1990s, LCD display panels were increasingly favored among aircraft manufacturers because of their efficiency, reliability and legibility.

Nowadays, Modern aircraft such as the Boeing 777, Boeing 787, and Boeing 747-400, Boeing 767-400ER, Airbus A320 family (enhanced version), Airbus A330, Airbus A340 , Airbus A380 and Airbus A350 are fitted with glass cockpits consisting of liquid crystal display (LCD) units

Glass Cockpit in Airbus A380

Glass Cockpit

A glass cockpit is an aircraft cockpit that feature EFIS (Electronic Flight

Instrument System)

On a glass cockpit aircraft, traditional flight instruments are replaced by an EFIS with six CRT of LCD screens displaying flight information in

most convenient form, each screen integrating several instruments.

EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrument System)

EFIS installations vary greatly. A light aircraft might be equipped with one

display unit, on which are displayed flight and navigation data.

A wide-body aircraft is likely to have six or more display units.

F/A-18 - Glass Cockpit

Bell 430 CockpitBoeing 777 Cockpit

Apache Cockpit

EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrument System)

An EFIS installation will have the following components:

1. PFD: Primary Flight Display

2. MFD (Multifunction Display) or ND ( Navigation Display)

3. ECAM: Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor

4. FMS: Flight Management System

Airbus A320 Glass Cockpit

F/A-18 -Military Aircraft Glass Cockpit

1. Primary Flight Display (PFD)

1. Primary Flight Display (PFD)Primary Flight Display (PFD): • PFD replaces the traditional flight instruments.• The PFD displays all information critical to

flight, including airspeed, altitude, heading, attitude & vertical speed

• The PFD is designed to improve a pilot's situational awareness by integrating all information into a single display.

• The PFD is also designed to reduce the amount of time necessary to monitor the instruments.

• PFDs also increase awareness by alerting the aircrew to potentially hazardous conditions (for example, low airspeed, high rate of descent )by changing the color or shape of the display or by providing audio alerts.

2. Multifunction Display/Navigation Display

2. Multifunction Display/Navigation Display

•MFD shows navigational information from multiple system. (VOR, DME, ILS)

•MFD also displays weather information from multiple systems (on-board radar or lightning detection sensors)

•Similar with the PFD, the MFD can change the color or shape of the data to alert the aircrew to hazardous situations.

3. Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor (ECAM):

3. Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor (ECAM):

Monitor the overall aircraft systems, including its fuel, electrical and engine systems.

Give the pilots warning when there is a malfunction.

For example, if an engine begins to lose oil pressure, the ECAM might sound an alert, switch the display to the page with the oil system information and outline the low oil pressure data with a red box.

Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor (ECAM)

1.The upper ECAM screen displays engine, flaps setting, fuel quantity and alert information.

2.The lower ECAM displays the various systems parameters.

4. Flight Management System (FMS)

4. Flight Management System (FMS) The flight management system (FMS) is

the avionics that holds the flight plan, and allows the pilot to modify as required in flight.

Given the position and the flight plan, the FMS guides the aircraft along the flight plan.

The FMS is normally controlled through a small screen and a keyboard.

5. Autopilot (AP)

Autopilot is a Computer device that can fly an airplane on its own.

Mostly used on long flights. However, pilot is always present to monitor and check in whether the flight is going according to plan or not.

Question

List and explains the functions of 4 modern technologies available in aircraft instrumentation

The End