Flight Instruments

DEFINITION
The flight instruments are those that allow the pilot to accurately control the aircraft in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The six basic flight instruments are the airspeed indicator (ASI) attitude indicator (AI) altimeter (A!T) turn coordinator (TC) heading indicator ("I) and the #ertical speed indicator ($SI). The magnetic compass may be considered a bac%&up se#enth flight instrument. The hori'ontal situation indicator ("SI) is a flight instrument that combines an "I with na#igation information.

SAFETY FACTORS
Thorough understanding of normal operating characteristics of the flight instruments adherence to chec%lists including the flight instruments and ability to detect failure of each flight instrument is essential to safe flight. (roper altimeter setting necessary for safe terrain clearance and traffic separation (itot heat in IMC (iced pitot tube and drain hole may cause ASI to act li%e A!T) )lying from high (temperature and*or pressure) to low +loo% out below+ Magnetic compass is bac%up heading indicator ,lectric TC pro#ides bac%up ban% information after #acuum system failure "I precesses (chec%*reset e#ery -. minutes and starting IA()

TOLERANCES
Instrument /ating (TS ()AA&S&010-&23) II. 4. -. ,xhibit ade5uate %nowledge of the elements related to applicable aircraft flight instrument systems and their operating characteristics to include

a. pitot&static b. altimeter c. airspeed indicator d. #ertical speed indicator e. attitude indicator f. hori'ontal situation indicator g. magnetic compass h. turn&and&slip indicator*turn coordinator i. heading indicator 6. electrical systems %. #acuum systems l. electronic flight instrument display II. C. Instrument Coc%pit Chec% -. ,xhibit ade5uate %nowledge of the elements related to preflighting instruments a#ionics and na#igation e5uipment coc%pit chec% by explaining the reasons for the chec% and how to detect possible defects 7. (erform the preflight on instruments a#ionics and na#igation e5uipment coc%pit chec% by following the chec%list appropriate to the aircraft flown 8. 3etermine that the aircraft is in condition for safe instrument flight including a. communications e5uipment b. na#igation e5uipment as appropriate to the aircraft flown c. magnetic compass d. heading indicator e. attitude indicator f. altimeter g. turn&and&slip indicator h. #ertical speed indicator i. airspeed indicator 6. cloc% %. power source for gyro instruments l. pitot heat m. electronic flight instrument display n. traffic awareness*warning*a#oidance system o. terrain awareness*warning*alert system p. )MS 5. auto pilot 2. 9ote any discrepancies and determine whether the aircraft is safe for instrument flight or re5uires maintenance

OBJECTIVES
To de#elop the student:s %nowledge of the flight instruments to meet the )AA (ractical Test Standards. To de#elop the student:s understanding of flight instrument operating characteristics the habit of proper preflight instrument chec%s and ability to detect abnormal or unsafe operation.

PROCEDURES
!ecture*3iscussion; a. pit t!st"ti# s$stem -) Includes three basic pressure&operated instruments;

a) Sensiti#e altimeter b) Airspeed indicator (ASI) c) Vertical speed indicator ($SI) 7) Static (ambient) pressure

8) Pitot pressure (impact or ram air pressure) 2) (osition error b. "ltimeter -) Aneroid barometer 7) (rinciple of operation a) ,#acuated corrugated bron'e aneroid capsules b) (ilot ad6ustable barometric scale #isible in the Kollsman window 8) Altimeter errors a) (reflight chec% for mechanical error; (75 feet) b) 9onstandard temperature effects c) 9onstandard pressure effects (+flying from high to low loo% out below<+) 2) Encoding altimeter a) Mode C transponder b) %&' (eet .) Absolute altimeter (radar or radio altimeter) c. "irspee) in)i#"t r *ASI+

-) ASI is a differential pressure guage that measures dynamic pressure 7) Indicated airspeed (IAS 8) !alibrated airspeed (!AS 2) E"ui#alent air speed (EAS .) $rue airspeed ($AS (TAS = CAS standard atmosphere at sea le#el) >) %ach number (TAS;speed of sound) ?) Airspeed color codes; @hite arc; flap&operating range (from flaps&down stall speed to maximum airspeed with flaps down) Areen arc; 9ormal operating range (from flaps&up stall speed to maximum airspeed in rough air) 4lue radial line; 4est single&engine rate of climb speed Bellow arc; Structural warning area (from maximum rough air speed to ne#er&exceed speed) /ed radial line; 9e#er&exceed speed

d. ,erti#"l spee) in)i#"t r *VSI+ (#ertical #elocity indicator $$I rate&of&climb indicator) -) /ate&of&pressure&change instrument 7) Static pressure and calibrated orifice 8) $SI lags behind actual pressure change but more sensiti#e than alitimeter e. "ttitu)e in)i#"t r *AI+ (attitude instrument artificial hori'on gyro hori'on) -) &yroscopic rigidity in space 7) Cperating mechanism; small brass wheel (gyroscope) with a #ertical spin axis a) Stream of air (#ia #acuum system) (C&T/-07) or b) ,lectric motor

8) 'ori(on dis) fixed to gimbals remains in same plane as gyro a) (itch mar%s b) 4an% index 2) Symbolic aicraft mounted on instrument case o#er hori'on dis% .) Erection mechanism (7 to . minutes) >) Clder gyros caging mechanism ?) ,rrors a) Slight nose up or down during rapid acceleration or deceleration respecti#ely b) (ossible small ban% and pitch errors after -01 degree turn c) ,rrors are small and correct themsel#es within a minute or so in S!) f. h ri- nt"l situ"ti n in)i#"t r *.SI+ -) Combines magnetic compass (or "I) with na#igation signals and glide slope 7) "eading indicator component usually dri#en by output from a flu* #al#e 8) 3isplays location relati#e to selected course

g. m"gneti# # mp"ss

-) Cperating principle & free magnets align with the earth:s lines of flux 7) /e5uired by -2 C)/ part D- for both $)/ and I)/ flight 8) Components a) Two small magnets b) Metal float c) Clear fluid d) Araduated scale the card e) !ubber line reference f) Eewel&and&pi#ot type mounting g) Compensator assembly 2) Compass errors a) Variation MC = TC F @est $ariation MC = TC & ,ast $ariation b) +e#iation i) Caused by local magnetic fields within the aircraft ii) /ecorded on compass correction card c) !ompass course (!! True course (TC) corrected for #ariation ($) and de#iation (3) TC /0! V 1 2C /0! D 1 CC d) +ip errors i) 9ortherly turning error NOSE (+9orth Cpposite South ,xaggerates+) ii) Acceleration error ANDS (Accelerate 9orth 3ecelerate South) e) Cscillation error h. turn!"n)!slip in)i#"t r0turn # r)in"t r *TC+ -) (rinciple of gyroscopic precession 7) Turn!"n)!slip in)i#"t r (needle and ball turn&and&ban% indicator)

8) Turn # r)in"t r

a) Inclinometer (slip,s)id indicator- coordination ball i) Indicates relationship between ban% angle and rate of yaw ii) Centered ball indicates coordinated turn b) Turn indicator

i) Ayro gimbal frame angled upward about 81G allowing it to sense both roll and yaw ii) @ing of symbolic airplane pointing to mar% indicates standard rate turn i. .e")ing in)i#"t r *.I3 )ire#ti n"l g$r 3 D4+ a) "I gyroscope i) 3ouble gimbal mounted ii) 'ori(ontal spin axis & senses rotation about aircraft #ertical axis iii) /igidity in space causes "I to maintain heading indication without the oscillation and other errors inherent in the magnetic compass b) Must be periodically (e#ery .5 minutes) set to the heading indicated by the magnetic compass c) Hsually air&dri#en by #acuum system 6. ele#tri#"l s$stems C&T/-07; turn coordinator gyroscope is electrically dri#en 3irect battery current Independent of alternator (and #acuum system) Cther flight instruments function without electricity "SI often electric 4ac%&up electric #acuum pump (in e#ent of engine&dri#en #acuum pump failure)

%. ,"#uum s$stems AI and "I gyros dri#en by engine&operated #acuum pump Monitor suction gauge (2.. & ..2 in"g) Additional bac%&up electric #acuum pump recommended Cessna T/-07 #acuum system l. ele#tr ni# (light instrument )ispl"$ *ele#tr ni# (light instrument s$stem3 EFIS3 5gl"ss # #6pit5+ Aarmin A-111 for example;

,lements (rimary flight display (()3) AI "I ASI A!T $SI Inclinometer (slip*s%id indicator) 9a#igation display "eading information /oute and course de#iation on mo#ing map 3igital bearing and distance to fix ,T, ground trac% ground speed etc ,ngine indicating and crew alerting system (,ICAS) ,ngine operation Irregular conditions Multi&function display (M)3)

Status of aircraft systems Cther optional information (weather TCAS info) Cperate according to manufacturers recommendations and (C" supplements (reflight instrument chec% a. # mmuni#"ti ns e7uipment b. n",ig"ti n e7uipment3 "s "ppr pri"te t the "ir#r"(t (l 8n c. m"gneti# # mp"ss d. he")ing in)i#"t r e. "ttitu)e in)i#"t r f. "ltimeter g. turn!"n)!slip in)i#"t r h. ,erti#"l spee) in)i#"t r i. "irspee) in)i#"t r 6. #l #6 %. p 8er s ur#e ( r g$r instruments TC & electric*ammeter*low #oltage light AI and "I & #acuum*suction guage*low&#acuum warning light*bac%up electric #acuum l. pit t he"t (and prop deice) Ammeter indication "eat m. ele#tr ni# (light instrument )ispl"$ Chec% according to manufacturers recommendations in (C" supplements n. tr"((i# "8"reness08"rning0", i)"n#e s$stem Chec% according to manufacturers recommendations in (C" supplements o. terr"in "8"reness08"rning0"lert s$stem Chec% according to manufacturers recommendations in (C" supplements p. F2S Chec% according to manufacturers recommendations in (C" supplements 5. "ut pil t Chec% according to manufacturers recommendations in (C" supplements )or example C&T/-07 chec%list for S&T,C >1

CO22ON ERRORS

)ailure to study (C" for details of operation of instruments in a specific aircraft )ailure to complete preflight instument chec% )ailure to detect instrument defects

Re(eren#es -2 C)/ parts >- and DInstrument )light Maneu#ers 2th ,dition Aleim 7112 Instrument )lying "andboo% )AA&"&0108&-. -DDD Instrument /ating (TS )AA&S&010-&23 April 7112 (C" for aircraft flown (e.g. C&T/-07)