Lesson 16: 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 non-

moving 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 pitot-
static 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