Aircraft Instruments
Essential Questions
• What are the instruments?
• What do the instruments do?
• How do the instruments work?
• How do you read the instruments?
The Standard “Six Pack”
• 6 most important instruments all side-by-side
The airspeed indicator shows speed
through the air --- not over the ground.
The static port The pitot tube on the
measures static or wing catches on-
still air – air that is rushing air. This “ram
not affected by the air” is compared to
airplane’s speed “static” air to
through the air determine air speed.
Types Of Airspeeds
[Link] Airspeed (IAS). The Airspeed Indicator reading without any
consideration for atmospheric conditions or potential installation and instrument
errors. The Indicated Airspeed is used to give the manufacturers recommendations
for aircraft performance indications relating to take off, landing, and stall speeds.
[Link] Airspeed (CAS). The Indicated Airspeed corrected for installation
error and instrument error. Under certain operating conditions installation and
instrument errors may total several knots.
[Link] Airspeed (TAS). The Calibrated Airspeed corrected for altitude related
atmospheric conditions such as temperature variations and air density. The True
Airspeed is used for flight planning calculations.
[Link] (GS). The aircraft’s actual speed over the ground, or the True
Airspeed adjusted for wind resistance factors (headwind, tailwind etc.).
The attitude indicator gives an artificial
horizon to show the pilot the airplane’s
position in relation to the ground.
Tells you 3 things:
1. Degrees of pitch
2. Degrees of bank
3. Climb or descenet
Here, the airplane is banking left
with its nose on the horizon —
where brown “ground” meets
blue “sky.”
The altimeter measures air pressure outside
the airplane and compares it to air pressure
at sea level to determine altitude.
Like the hands of a clock, the long
hand shows smaller increments
(100s of feet) while the shorter hand
shows larger increments (1,000s of
feet). The hand with the triangle on
the end shows the largest
increments (10,000s of feet).
This altimeter is reading 1,719 feet.
Types Of Altitudes
[Link] Altitude. The altitude indicated on the altimeter when the correct
barometric pressure is set.
[Link] Altitude. Height above sea level (MSL).
[Link] Altitude. Height above ground level (AGL).
[Link] Altitude. The altitude indicated on the altimeter based on a ‘standard
atmospheric level’, this is sometimes used in flight planning calculations.
[Link] Altitude. This is the Pressure Altitude adjusted for temperature
variations (density altitude affects aircraft performance).
The vertical speed indicator uses changes
in air pressure to indicate rate of climb or
descent.
VS is measured in feet per
minute
This airplane is descending at
180 feet per minute.
The turn coordinator shows if the wings are
level or banked. The position of the ball
indicates if the airplane is coordinated
during a turn.
Turn Coordinator
The ball is centered when
the turn is coordinated by the
rudder.
The heading indicator shows you which
direction you’re going relative to Earth’s
latitude and longitude lines.
Runway numbers work the same way that
the numbers on the heading indicator do.
The last 0 is omitted and the numbers on
the runway match the number on the
heading indicator, +/- 5 degrees.
Since Earth is a sphere, there are 360
numbers, each being a different
direction. For example, east is 90
When landing here, your heading indicator
should read 27 because you’re landing on and south is 180. On the heading
runway 27, which is actually 270 degrees. indicator, the last 0 is omitted.
Other Instruments
• Instruments that you look at less than
the main six including fuel indicators,
oil temperature, RPMs, etc.
Quiz Time!
• Your attitude indicator has just failed.
What other instruments can you use
combined to read the same information
that the attitude indicator tells you and
why?
• Turn coordinator - indicates whether
you’re banking or not
• VSI - indicates climbs and descents
(remember 4 second delay!)
Quiz Time!
• What is the VSI measured in?
• Feet per minute
Essential Questions
• What are the instruments?
• What do the instruments do?
• How do the instruments work?
• How do you read the instruments?