COURSE OUTLINE

Week 進度說明 Progress Description

1 民航系統發展與演變; Introduction to Civil Aviation
2 基本流體力學; Basic Aerodynamics
3 飛機推進器; Airplane Propulsions
4 Class cancelled
5 飛機穩定與控制; Aircraft Stability and Control
6 飛具性能; Aircraft Performance
7 Inter-University Activity Day
8 飛機結構學; Airplane Structures
9 期中考; Midterm Exam
10 飛行儀表; Flight Instruments
11 自動飛行控制; Automatic Flight Control
12 導航系統; Navigation Systems
13 通訊系統; Communication Systems
14 通訊系統; Communication Systems
15 空中交通管理; Air Traffic Management
16 空中交通管理; Air Traffic Management
17 人因工程; Human Factor
18 期末考; Final Exam

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 飛行儀表
FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS

Main References:
FAA Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, at [Link]
Wyatt, D. (2015). Aircraft flight instruments and guidance systems – principles, operations and maintenance. Routledge.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 INSTRUMENT PANEL LAYOUT

▪ The majority of aircraft built since the late 1940s and early 1950s have
four flight instruments located in a standard arrangement called the
flying T (or Tee)
▪ The artificial horizon/attitude indicator is in the top/center; the air-
speed indicator (ASI) to the left, altimeter to the right and directional
gyro underneath.

[1] Airspeed Indicator (ASI) ; [2] Attitude Direction Indicator (ADI) ; [1] Airspeed Indicator (ASI) ; [2] Attitude Indicator (AI) ;
[3] Altimeter (ALT) ; [4] Radio Magnetic Indicator (RMI) ; [3] Altimeter (ALT) ; [4] Turn Indicator (TI) ;
[5] Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI) ; [5] Heading Indicator (HI) [aka directional indicator (DI)] ;
[6] Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI) [6] Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI)

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 INSTRUMENT PANEL LAYOUT

Lockheed L-1011 Cessna 172

Radio Magnetic Indicator Turn Indicator

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 INSTRUMENT PANEL LAYOUT

▪ Developments in microprocessors and display technology have led to

electronic versions of these instruments, often with additional
features and benefits.
▪ The turn-and-slip indicator (or alternatively a turn-coordinator) and
vertical-speed indicator are usually located under the ASI and
altimeter.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 INSTRUMENT PANEL LAYOUT

B747-200

B747-8

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 INSTRUMENT PANEL LAYOUT

▪ The magnetic compass will be located above the instrument panel,

normally on the windscreen center post.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 INSTRUMENT PANEL LAYOUT

▪ For single-pilot aircraft, this instrument-panel arrangement would be

directly in front of the pilot.

▪ Small general-aviation airplanes are traditionally based on the pilot in

command being in the left-hand seat.

▪ On larger transport airplanes, the instruments are duplicated.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 INSTRUMENT PANEL LAYOUT

▪ Single-pilot aircraft have some of these primary instruments repeated

on the opposite panel depending on the operational role of the
aircraft, e.g. training aircraft will duplicate the primary instruments.

▪ Aircraft that are certified for two-crew operations will duplicate the
primary instruments on both panels.

▪ In good weather conditions (called visual flight rules – VFR) smaller

GA aircraft can be operated through all flight phases without the use
of any of the subject instruments.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 INSTRUMENT PANEL LAYOUT

▪ Aircraft approved to fly in instrument flight rules (IFR) do require

these flight instruments. Larger two-crew aircraft are equipped with a
third attitude indicator for standby and comparison purposes.

▪ The vertical-speed indicator is beneficial but not essential.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 INSTRUMENT PANEL LAYOUT

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 INSTRUMENT PANEL LAYOUT

▪ In summary, the Flight Instruments include:

 Airspeed Indicator (ASI)

 Altimeter (ALT) Pitot-Static System
 Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI)
 Attitude Indicator (AI) /
Attitude Directional Indicator (ADI)
Gyroscopic System
 Turn Indicator (TI)
 Heading Indicator (HI)
 Compass Magnetic System
 Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI)
 Radio Magnetic Indicator (RMI)

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 AIRSPEED INDICATOR (ASI)

▪ The ASI is a sensitive, differential pressure gauge that measures and

promptly indicates the difference between pitot (impact/dynamic
pressure) and static pressure.

▪ When the aircraft moves through the air, the pressure on the pitot
line becomes greater than the pressure in the static lines. This
difference in pressure is registered by the airspeed pointer on the face
of the instrument, which is calibrated in miles per hour, knots
(nautical miles per hour), or both.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 AIRSPEED INDICATOR (ASI)

▪ The ASI is part of the pitot-static system

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 AIRSPEED INDICATOR (ASI)

▪ Working Principle of ASI

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 AIRSPEED INDICATOR (ASI)

▪ Indicated airspeed (IAS)—the direct instrument reading obtained from

the ASI, uncorrected for variations in atmospheric density, installation
error, or instrument error. Manufacturers use this airspeed as the
basis for determining aircraft performance. Takeoff, landing, and stall
speeds listed in the AFM/POH are IAS and do not normally vary with
altitude or temperature.

▪ Calibrated airspeed (CAS)—IAS corrected for installation error and

instrument error. In the cruising and higher airspeed ranges, IAS and
CAS are approximately the same.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 AIRSPEED INDICATOR (ASI)

▪ True airspeed (TAS)—CAS corrected for altitude and nonstandard

temperature. Because air density decreases with an increase in
altitude, an aircraft has to be flown faster at higher altitudes to cause
the same pressure difference between pitot impact pressure and
static pressure. Therefore, for a given CAS, TAS increases as altitude
increases; or for a given TAS, CAS decreases as altitude increases.

▪ Groundspeed (GS)—the actual speed of the airplane over the ground.

It is TAS adjusted for wind. GS decreases with a headwind and
increases with a tailwind.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 AIRSPEED INDICATOR (ASI)

VS0: the stalling speed or the minimum

steady flight speed in the landing
configuration. In small aircraft, this is the
power-off stall speed at the maximum
landing weight in the landing configuration
(gear and flaps down).

VS1: the stalling speed or the minimum

steady flight speed obtained in a specified
configuration. For most aircraft, this is the
power-off stall speed at the maximum
takeoff weight in the clean configuration
(gear up, if retractable, and flaps up).

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 AIRSPEED INDICATOR (ASI)

VFE: the maximum speed with the flaps

extended.

VN0: the maximum structural cruising speed.

Do not exceed this speed except in smooth
air.

VNE: never-exceed speed. Operating above

this speed is prohibited since it may result in
damage or structural failure.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 AIRSPEED INDICATOR (ASI)

▪ White arc: flap operating range

▪ Green arc: the normal operating

range of the aircraft. Most flying
occurs within this range.

▪ Yellow arc—caution range. Fly

within this range only in smooth air
and then only with caution.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 AIRSPEED INDICATOR (ASI)

▪ Other speed limits

Design maneuvering speed (VA)—the maximum speed at which the structural design’s limit
load can be imposed (either by gusts or full deflection of the control surfaces) without causing
structural damage. It is important to consider weight when referencing this speed.

Landing gear operating speed (VLO)—the maximum speed for extending or retracting the
landing gear if flying an aircraft with retractable landing gear.

Landing gear extended speed (VLE)—the maximum speed at which an aircraft can be safely
flown with the landing gear extended.

Best angle-of-climb speed (VX)—the airspeed at which an aircraft gains the greatest amount of
altitude in a given distance. It is used during a short-field takeoff to clear an obstacle.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 AIRSPEED INDICATOR (ASI)

▪ Other speed limits

Best rate-of-climb speed (VY)—the airspeed that provides the most

altitude gain in a given period of time.

Single-engine best rate-of-climb (VYSE)—the best rate-of-climb or

minimum rate-of-sink in a light twin-engine aircraft with one engine
inoperative. It is marked on the ASI with a blue line.

Minimum control speed (VMC)—the minimum flight speed at which a

light, twin-engine aircraft can be satisfactorily controlled when an
engine suddenly becomes inoperative and the remaining engine is at
takeoff power.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 ALTIMETER (ALT)

▪ The altimeter is an instrument that measures the

height of an aircraft above a given pressure level.

▪ Since the altimeter is the only instrument that is

capable of indicating altitude, this is one of the
most vital instruments installed in the aircraft.

▪ To use the altimeter effectively, the pilot must

understand the operation of the instrument, as well
as the errors associated with the altimeter and how
each affect the indication.:

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 ALTIMETER (ALT)

▪ Working Principle of ALT

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 ALTIMETER (ALT)

▪ Most altimeters are equipped with a barometric pressure setting

window (or Kollsman window) providing a means to adjust the
altimeter.

▪ To adjust the altimeter for variation in atmospheric pressure, the

pressure scale in the altimeter setting window, calibrated in inches of
mercury ("Hg) and/or millibars (mb), is adjusted to match the given
altimeter setting.

▪ Altimeter setting is defined as station pressure reduced to sea level,

but an altimeter setting is accurate only in the vicinity of the reporting
station.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 ALTIMETER (ALT)

▪ Therefore, the altimeter must be adjusted as the flight progresses

from one station to the next. Air traffic control (ATC) will advise when
updated altimeter settings are available.

▪ If a pilot is not utilizing ATC assistance, local altimeter settings can be

obtained by monitoring local automated weather observing
system/automated surface observing (AWOS/ASOS) or automatic
terminal information service (ATIS) broadcasts.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 ALTIMETER (ALT)

▪ Effect of temperature cannot be corrected:

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 ALTIMETER (ALT)

▪ Indicated altitude: read directly from the altimeter (uncorrected)

when it is set to the current altimeter setting.

▪ True altitude: the vertical distance of the aircraft above sea level—the
actual altitude. It is often expressed as feet above mean sea level
(MSL). Airport, terrain, and obstacle elevations on aeronautical charts
are true altitudes.

▪ Absolute altitude: the vertical distance of an aircraft above the terrain,

or above ground level (AGL). Measured using radar altimeter, an
essential part in ground proximity warning systems (GPWS). However,
radar altimeters cannot see terrain directly ahead of the aircraft, only
that below it

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 ALTIMETER (ALT)

▪ Pressure altitude: the altitude indicated when the altimeter setting

window (barometric scale) is adjusted to 29.92 "Hg. This is the
altitude above the standard datum plane, which is a theoretical plane
where air pressure (corrected to 15 °C) equals 29.92 "Hg. Pressure
altitude is used to compute density altitude, true altitude, true
airspeed (TAS), and other performance data.

▪ Density altitude: pressure altitude corrected for variations from

standard temperature. When conditions are standard, pressure
altitude and density altitude are the same. If the temperature is
above standard, the density altitude is higher than pressure altitude.
If the temperature is below standard, the density altitude is lower
than pressure altitude.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 VERTICAL SPEED INDICATOR (VSI)

▪ The VSI, which is sometimes called a vertical

velocity indicator (VVI), indicates whether the
aircraft is climbing, descending, or in level flight.

▪ The rate of climb or descent is indicated in feet

per minute (fpm).

▪ If properly calibrated, the VSI indicates zero in

level flight.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 VERTICAL SPEED INDICATOR (VSI)

▪ Working principle of VSI:

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 ATTITUDE INDICATOR (AI) / ATTITUDE DIRECTIONAL INDICATOR (ADI)

▪ The attitude indicator displays a picture of the

attitude of the aircraft.

▪ The gyro in the attitude indicator is mounted in a

horizontal plane.

▪ The horizon bar represents the true horizon. This

bar is fixed to the gyro and remains in a horizontal
plane as the aircraft is pitched or banked about its
lateral or longitudinal axis, indicating the attitude
of the aircraft relative to the true horizon.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 ATTITUDE INDICATOR (AI) / ATTITUDE DIRECTIONAL INDICATOR (ADI)

▪ Rigidity in Space: a gyroscope remains in a fixed position in the plane

in which it is spinning.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 ATTITUDE INDICATOR (AI) / ATTITUDE DIRECTIONAL INDICATOR (ADI)

▪ Working Principle of AI:

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 ATTITUDE INDICATOR (AI) / ATTITUDE DIRECTION INDICATOR (ADI)

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 TURN INDICATOR (TI)

▪ Aircraft use two types of turn indicators: turn-

and-slip indicators and turn coordinators.

▪ Because of the way the gyro is mounted, the turn-

and-slip indicator shows only the rate of turn in
degrees per second.

▪ The turn coordinator is mounted at an angle, or

canted, so it can initially show roll rate. When the
roll stabilizes, it indicates rate of turn.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 TURN INDICATOR (TI)

▪ Both instruments indicate turn direction and

quality (coordination), and also serve as a backup
source of bank information in the event an
attitude indicator fails.

▪ Coordination is achieved by referring to the

inclinometer, which consists of a liquid-filled
curved tube with a ball inside.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 TURN INDICATOR (TI)

▪ Gyro precession: Precession is the tilting or turning of a gyro in

response to a deflective force. The reaction to this force does not
occur at the point at which it was applied; rather, it occurs at a point
that is 90° later in the direction of rotation.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 TURN INDICATOR (TI)

▪ Working principles of TI:

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 TURN INDICATOR (TI)

▪ Centering the ball results in a coordinated turn.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 HEADING INDICATOR (HI)

▪ The heading indicator is fundamentally a

mechanical instrument designed to facilitate the
use of the magnetic compass.

▪ Errors in the magnetic compass are numerous,

making straight flight and precision turns to
headings difficult to accomplish, particularly in
turbulent air.

▪ A heading indicator, however, is not affected by

the forces that make the magnetic compass
difficult to interpret.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 HEADING INDICATOR (HI)

▪ Working principle of HI:

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 HEADING INDICATOR (HI)

▪ Because of precession caused by friction, the heading

indicator drifts from its set position.

▪ If the bearings are worn, dirty, or improperly

lubricated, the drift may be excessive.

▪ Another error in the heading indicator is caused by the

fact that the gyro is oriented in space, and the Earth
rotates in space at a rate of 15° in 1 hour.

▪ Thus, discounting precession caused by friction, the

heading indicator may indicate as much as 15° error
per every hour of operation.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 COMPASS SYSTEM

▪ The Earth is a huge magnet, spinning in space,

surrounded by a magnetic field made up of
invisible lines of flux.

▪ These lines leave the surface at the magnetic

North Pole and reenter at the magnetic South
Pole.

▪ Lines of magnetic flux have two important

characteristics:
1. any magnet that is free to rotate will align with them, and
2. an electrical current is induced into any conductor that cuts
across them.
Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 COMPASS SYSTEM

▪ A magnetic compass is one of the oldest and

simplest instruments for indicating direction.

▪ It is also one of the basic instruments required

by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(14 CFR) part 91 for both VFR and IFR flight.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 COMPASS SYSTEM

▪ Working principle of magnetic compass:

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 COMPASS SYSTEM

▪ Magnetic Compass Induced Errors:

1. Variation
2. Deviation
3. Dip Errors
4. Northerly Turning Errors
5. Southerly Turning Errors
6. Acceleration Error
7. Oscillation Error

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 COMPASS SYSTEM

▪ Variation: To put it simply, magnetic poles are not the same as

geographic poles.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 COMPASS SYSTEM

▪ Deviation: errors caused by the aircraft’s

electrical current, magnetized parts.

▪ Deviation, unlike variation, depends on the

aircraft heading.

▪ Also unlike variation, the aircraft’s

geographic location does not affect
deviation.

▪ It can be minimized by performing the

maintenance task known as “swinging the Compass Rose
compass.”
Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 COMPASS SYSTEM

▪ Dip Errors: errors caused by the dip angle as the aircraft is near the
magnetic poles.

▪ The Earth's magnetic field runs

parallel to its surface only at the
Magnetic Equator.

▪ The dip angle increases in a

downward direction as you move
towards the Magnetic North Pole
and increases in an upward
direction as you move towards
the Magnetic South Pole.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 COMPASS SYSTEM

▪ Dip Errors: errors caused by the dip angle as the aircraft is near the
magnetic poles.

▪ Lowering the center of gravity of

the float assembly below the
pivot point and making the
assembly heavy enough that the
vertical component of the
magnetic force is too weak to tilt
it significantly out of the
horizontal plane.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 COMPASS SYSTEM

▪ Northerly and Southerly Turning Errors: caused by the dip angle and
aircraft banking in a turn.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 COMPASS SYSTEM

▪ In a turn, the compass leads the airplane on southerly headings and

lags on northerly headings.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 COMPASS SYSTEM

▪ Acceleration Error: caused by the dip angle, low CG of the float

assembly, and inertia. Occurs on easterly and westerly headings.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 COMPASS SYSTEM

▪ Oscillation Error: combination of all of the errors previously

mentioned and results in fluctuation of the compass card in relation
to the actual heading direction of the aircraft.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 ELECTRONIC FLIGHT DISPLAY (EFD)

▪ Electronic Flight Displays (EFDs) commonly referred to as “glass

cockpits” includes flight displays such as primary flight displays (PFD)
and multi-function displays (MFD).

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 ELECTRONIC FLIGHT DISPLAY (EFD)

▪ Electronic flight displays have replaced free-

spinning gyros with solid-state laser systems
that are capable of flight at any attitude
without tumbling.

▪ This capability is the result of the

development of the Attitude and Heading
Reference System (AHRS).

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 ELECTRONIC FLIGHT DISPLAY (EFD)

▪ The AHRS sends attitude information to the

Primary flight display (PFD) in order to
generate the pitch and bank information of
the attitude indicator. The heading
information is derived from a

▪ Magnetometer that senses the earth’s lines

of magnetic flux. This information is then
processed and sent out to the PFD to
generate the heading display.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 TEARDOWN OF B737 VERTICAL GYROSCOPE

[Link]

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 HOMEWORK

▪ As mentioned in the class earlier, flight instruments of the pitot-

static system incurs a lot of errors, why are they not being replaced
by GNSS which can measure vertical speed and altitude so much
more accurately? Please discuss.

Submit your discussion next Tuesday.

Submit in PDF through Moodle.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 HORIZONTAL SITUATION INDICATOR (HSI)

▪ Some heading indicators referred to as

horizontal situation indicators (HSI)
receive a magnetic north reference from
a magnetic slaving transmitter and
generally need no adjustment.

▪ It is a combination of HI and VOR (VHF

Omni-directional Range)

▪ The magnetic slaving transmitter is

called a magnetometer.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 HORIZONTAL SITUATION INDICATOR (HSI)

▪ The slaving control and compensator

unit has a push button that provides a
means of selecting either the “slaved
gyro” or “free gyro” mode.

▪ This unit also has a slaving meter and

two manual heading-drive buttons. The
slaving meter indicates the difference
between the displayed heading and the
magnetic heading.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 HORIZONTAL SITUATION INDICATOR (HSI)

▪ A right deflection indicates a clockwise

error of the compass card; a left
deflection indicates a counterclockwise
error.

▪ Whenever the aircraft is in a turn and the

card rotates, the slaving meter shows a
full deflection to one side or the other.

▪ When the system is in “free gyro” mode,

the compass card may be adjusted by
depressing the appropriate heading-
drive button.

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 RADIO MAGNETIC INDICATOR (RMI)

▪ The compass card is driven by signals from the

flux valve, and the two pointers are driven by an
automatic direction finder (ADF) and a very high
frequency (VHF) omni-directional radio range
(VOR).

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26
 EVOLUTION OF COCKPIT

▪ Traditional flight instruments are

phased out in modern plane.

▪ Good or bad?

Civil Aviation System 民航系統 Q460400 | Institute of Civil Aviation | Academic Year 2025/26