WHAT ARE THE FUNCTION OF EACH INSTRUMENTS IN THE COCKPIT – The cockpit of an aircraft is equipped with a wide array of instruments, each serving a specific purpose to help pilots navigate, monitor aircraft systems, and ensure safety during flight. These instruments are grouped into categories based on their function, and each plays a vital role in ensuring the aircraft is operating correctly.
1. Primary Flight Instruments
These instruments are crucial for controlling the aircraft and maintaining its orientation and flight path.
A. Attitude Indicator (Artificial Horizon)
- Purpose: Displays the aircraft’s orientation relative to the horizon. It shows whether the aircraft is level, climbing, descending, or turning, which is essential for maintaining control, especially in low visibility conditions.
- Key Display: The symbol of an aircraft is depicted on a background representing the horizon. A blue sky is at the top, and brown/earth is at the bottom.
B. Altimeter
- Purpose: Measures the aircraft’s altitude by comparing the atmospheric pressure outside the aircraft to a reference pressure. This is critical for determining how high the aircraft is above sea level.
- Key Display: The altimeter shows a numerical readout in feet or meters (depending on the system) and provides information for maintaining the appropriate altitude.
C. Airspeed Indicator
- Purpose: Measures the aircraft’s speed relative to the surrounding air. This helps pilots avoid flying too fast (which could cause structural damage) or too slow (which could lead to a stall).
- Key Display: The airspeed indicator is typically displayed in knots or miles per hour and includes color-coded sections indicating safe airspeed ranges (green for normal, yellow for caution, red for dangerous).
D. Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI)
- Purpose: Displays the rate of climb or descent in feet per minute (fpm). This is crucial for maintaining the proper ascent or descent rate during takeoff, approach, and landing.
- Key Display: It shows whether the aircraft is climbing or descending and at what rate.
E. Heading Indicator (or Magnetic Compass)
- Purpose: Shows the aircraft’s current heading, or direction, in degrees relative to magnetic north. This is essential for navigation, especially during turns or when following a specific flight path.
- Key Display: A rotating compass card displays a numerical heading (0-360 degrees).
2. Engine and System Monitoring Instruments
These instruments allow pilots to monitor the health of the aircraft’s systems, particularly the engines.
A. Tachometer
- Purpose: Measures the rotational speed of the engine’s crankshaft, typically in revolutions per minute (RPM). This helps ensure the engine is running within safe operating limits.
- Key Display: Typically displays a needle indicating RPM, with a red radial showing the maximum safe RPM.
B. Oil Pressure and Temperature Gauges
- Purpose: Monitors the oil pressure and temperature in the engine, ensuring the engine remains lubricated and doesn’t overheat.
- Key Display: These gauges provide real-time information about the oil system’s performance to avoid engine damage.
C. Fuel Gauges
- Purpose: Shows the amount of fuel in each tank and monitors the fuel consumption rate. This is critical for managing fuel and ensuring there is enough to reach the destination or alternate airports.
- Key Display: The gauges typically display a percentage or quantity of fuel available in each tank, and fuel flow meters indicate the rate of consumption.
D. Engine Temperature Gauges
- Purpose: Monitors the temperature of the engine’s various components, such as the exhaust gas temperature (EGT), to ensure the engine operates within safe thermal limits.
- Key Display: Displays show temperature readings, usually in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit.
3. Navigation Instruments
These instruments are used to help pilots determine the aircraft’s position and follow the correct route.
A. Horizontal Situation Indicator (HSI)
- Purpose: Displays the aircraft’s position relative to a navigational aid (such as a VOR station) or a flight path. It is used in conjunction with a GPS or navigation system.
- Key Display: Shows a compass rose with an indication of the aircraft’s position on a flight route, helping with navigation.
B. Course Deviation Indicator (CDI)
- Purpose: Works with the aircraft’s navigation systems (like VOR or GPS) to show whether the aircraft is left or right of the intended flight path.
- Key Display: Shows the deviation from the planned course, usually with a needle pointing left or right.
C. GPS (Global Positioning System) Display
- Purpose: Displays real-time navigation information, including the aircraft’s current position, waypoints, and flight path on a map.
- Key Display: A digital map with waypoints, flight routes, and the aircraft’s location relative to the route.
D. Radio Altimeter
- Purpose: Measures the aircraft’s altitude above the ground (rather than sea level) by bouncing radio waves off the ground. It’s especially useful for low-altitude flying and during the approach phase.
- Key Display: Shows the aircraft’s altitude in feet above the ground.
4. Environmental and Weather Instruments
These instruments help pilots assess and respond to atmospheric conditions.
A. Outside Air Temperature (OAT)
- Purpose: Measures the temperature of the air outside the aircraft, which can influence aircraft performance, such as fuel efficiency and engine power.
- Key Display: Typically displayed in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit.
B. Weather Radar
- Purpose: Helps pilots detect weather phenomena such as thunderstorms, turbulence, or precipitation. It provides a radar image that shows areas of heavy rainfall or storm activity.
- Key Display: A radar screen shows areas of storm activity, often color-coded to indicate the severity of weather.
C. Pitot Tube and Static Ports
- Purpose: The pitot tube measures the dynamic pressure of the air flowing into the aircraft, used for airspeed measurement, while the static port measures the ambient air pressure, which is used to calculate altitude and vertical speed.
- Key Display: The pitot tube feeds into the airspeed indicator, and the static ports provide input for the altimeter, VSI, and other instruments.
5. Flight Management and Control Instruments
These instruments help pilots manage and control the flight.
A. Autopilot
- Purpose: Allows the aircraft to fly automatically along a programmed route, maintaining altitude, heading, and speed without pilot intervention. It reduces pilot workload, especially on long-haul flights.
- Key Display: The autopilot system is controlled by buttons and dials on the flight control panel, and it’s monitored via a digital display showing the aircraft’s current autopilot settings.
B. Throttles and Power Controls
- Purpose: Controls the engine power or thrust. Pilots use the throttle to manage speed, climb rate, and fuel efficiency.
- Key Display: Physical throttle levers that are adjusted during takeoff, cruising, and landing to control engine power.
C. Flight Data Monitoring (FMS/EFIS)
- Purpose: The Flight Management System (FMS) provides a comprehensive overview of flight parameters, route planning, and navigation. The Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) combines several flight instruments into a digital display for easier monitoring.
- Key Display: Digital or glass cockpit displays showing flight route, speed, altitude, heading, and other performance metrics.
6. Miscellaneous Instruments
These instruments provide additional information for flight safety and comfort.
A. Oxygen System Indicators
- Purpose: Monitors the oxygen levels in the cabin and the aircraft’s oxygen supply for emergencies.
- Key Display: Provides readings for cabin oxygen levels and the status of oxygen masks.
B. Brake Temperature Gauges
- Purpose: Monitors the temperature of the aircraft’s brakes, particularly during landing and taxiing, to ensure they don’t overheat and fail.
- Key Display: Displays temperature readings for individual wheels or the entire braking system.
In summary, the cockpit instruments work together to give pilots the necessary information to operate the aircraft safely, navigate through various airspaces, monitor the performance of the aircraft, and respond to any unexpected situations. These instruments help pilots maintain control of the aircraft under various conditions, from routine flights to challenging weather or emergencies.