Aircraft Instrument Systems

Classification Of Instruments
Flight Instruments Engine Instruments

Auxiliary Instruments

Flight Instruments
Those that help visualize the attitude, location and speeds of the aircraft. Those which indicate the relationship to the air through which we are flying Those which relate to our position in space without considering the air.

Pitot-static System
Dynamic Air Pressure - Pressure caused by moving air. Ambient Static Air Pressure - Pressure of nonmoving air just outside the aircraft.

Pitot-static System

Pitot Head

Pitot Head

Flush Static Port

Airspeed Indicator
Differential pressure gauge that measures the difference between dynamic and ambient static air pressure.

Airspeed Indicator
Indicated airspeed The speed of an aircraft as shown on the airspeed indicator. True airspeed The speed at which an aircraft is moving relative to the surrounding air. Calibrated airspeed Indicated airspeed of an aircraft, corrected for installation and instrument errors.

Altimeter
A barometer that measures the absolute pressure of the air.

Altimeter
Indicated Altitude The altitude shown by an altimeter set to current altimeter setting. Pressure Altitude Height above the standard pressure level of 29.92 in.Hg. Density Altitude Pressure altitude corrected for nonstandard temperature variations.

Altimeter
True Altitude The actual height of an abject above mean sea level. Absolute Altitude Actual height above the surface of the earth, either land or water.

Vertical Speed Indicator

The rate of climb indicator Serves only as a backup for the altimeter and airspeed indicator as a pitch indicating instrument. Helps the pilot establish a rate of climb or descent.

Blockage Of The Pitot-Static System

Pitot Tube Affects only the airspeed indicator, but a clogged static system affects all three pitotstatic instruments. If the pitot tube is blocked and its drain hole remains open, the airspeed reading will drop to zero. If both pitot tube and the drain hole clog, the airspeed indicator will react like an altimeter.

Blockage Of The Pitot-Static System

Static port The indicated airspeed increases as the airplane descends and decreases when it climbs. The altimeter: air pressure in the system will not change and neither will your indicated altitude. VSI continually indicates Zero.

Gyroscopic Instruments

Gyroscopic Instruments
Turn coordinator Attitude indicator

Heading indicator

Gyroscopic Instruments
Rigidity In Space Once a gyroscope is spinning, it tends to remain in a fixed position in space and resist external forces applied to it.

Gyroscopic Instruments
Precession The tilting or turning of a gyro in response to pressure.

The reaction to this force occurs in the direction of rotation, approximately 90 ahead of the point where the force was applied.

Sources Of Power
Gyroscopes may be operated by electrical power or by a vacuum (suction) system.

Sources Of Power

Attitude Indicator
Vacuum powered instrument which senses pitching and rolling movements about the airplanes lateral and longitudinal axes.

Attitude Indicator

Attitude Indicator

Directional Gyro
Vacuum powered instrument which senses yaw movement of the airplane about the vertical axis. Horizontal card directional gyro

Directional Gyro
Vertical card directional gyro

Rate Gyros
Turn And Slip Indicator Turn Coordinator

Inclinometer

Rate Gyros

Turn Coordinator

Floating Magnet-type Magnetic Compass

Engine Instruments

Engine Instruments