Questions and Answers
What was the primary issue with early aircraft instrument panels?
What were the typical instruments found in early aircraft?
What was the significance of the Basic T configuration?
What was the primary advantage of the Basic T configuration?
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When did the Basic T configuration become widely used?
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What instruments were typically placed in a row in the Basic T configuration?
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Why was the compass placed below the row of instruments in the Basic T configuration?
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What was the primary reason for developing standardized instrument layouts?
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What is the primary function of electronic flight instruments in an aircraft?
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What is the advantage of using EFIS systems over analogue instrument-based cockpits?
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What is the purpose of symbol generators in an EFIS system?
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What is the advantage of using multifunction displays in an EFIS system?
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What is the purpose of the EADI and EHSI displays in an EFIS system?
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What is the benefit of having interchangeable displays in an EFIS system?
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What is the primary source of information for EFIS displays?
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What is the purpose of a centre symbol generator in an EFIS system?
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What type of information does the ND display in a Boeing 737?
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What is the system used by Boeing to provide airframe and engine data?
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What is displayed on the primary and secondary screens in a Boeing system?
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What is the system used by Airbus to provide engine, system, and synoptic information?
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What is displayed on the screens in an Airbus system?
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What is the purpose of the EICAS system in a Boeing aircraft?
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What is the module and topic where more information on the EFIS and EICAS is provided?
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What is the name of the instrument panel layout used in a Boeing aircraft?
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What is the primary purpose of duplicating data buses in digital systems?
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What type of converters are used to pass information from analogue systems to digital systems?
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What is the main function of a Symbol Generator Unit (SGU) in an Electronic Display System?
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What is a common failure mode in digital systems?
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What is the purpose of a digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) in a digital system?
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Why do commercial aircraft typically have at least two symbol generators?
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What is the term used to describe the separate buses in parallel in a digital system?
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What is the most common failure mode when a connector is not installed correctly?
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What is the main function of the symbol generator in an electronic instrument display system?
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What happens when two channels of the data bus fail?
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What type of data is sent from the symbol generator to the I/O processors?
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What is the role of the main processor in the display system?
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What type of display bus is used to send information from the symbol generator to the display?
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How many separate channels of a data bus can be used in a display system?
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What happens when a symbol generator fails?
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What are the two types of data that can be written on the screen?
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Study Notes
Conventions and Development of Electronic Instrument Systems
- Early aircraft had only a clock and a compass, which was acceptable for daytime flights in clear weather.
- As more instruments became available, they were arranged randomly on the instrument panel, causing problems for pilots flying multiple aircraft.
- After 1950, most aircraft cockpits adopted the Basic T configuration, with an Airspeed Indicator, Attitude Indicator, and Altimeter in a row, making essential information easily accessible in emergencies.
Arrangements of Electronic Instrument Systems
- Electronic Flight Instrument Systems (EFIS) provide all primary aircraft operational information on display screens, reducing instrument clutter and maintenance needs.
- A typical EFIS system consists of four interchangeable displays: two EADI (Electronic Attitude Director Indicator) and two EHSI (Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator), three symbol generators, two control panels, and two source selection panels.
Cockpit Layout of Electronic Instrument Systems
- The Boeing system uses the Engine Indicating and Crew Alert System (EICAS) to display airframe and engine data, and indicate visual cautions, warnings, and memos.
- The Airbus system uses the Electronic Centralised Aircraft Monitor System (ECAM) to display engine, system, and synoptic information, and indicate visual cautions, warnings, and memos.
- Both systems use primary and secondary screens to display primary and secondary engine data, respectively.
Data Buses and Symbol Generators
- Data buses are duplicated for redundancy, with channels A and B carrying the same information to ensure system operation if one bus fails.
- Symbol generators receive all aircraft sensor inputs, process and transmit information to electronic displays, and provide analogue, discrete, and digital signal interfaces.
- Commercial aircraft typically have at least two symbol generators, with some systems having an additional unit for redundancy.
Basic Operation of Aircraft Display Systems
- Symbol generators receive information from the data bus and send it to the display, as selected by the aircrew.
- All symbol generators receive the same data from the data bus, allowing back-up units to take over in case of failure.
- Display systems use up to three separate channels of a data bus, and can still function if two channels fail.
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Description
Learn about the typical arrangements and cockpit layouts of electronic instrument systems in aviation, including their history and development.