Chapter 17 Electronic Flight Instrument System EFIS “Eee Fis”

Chapter 17

Electronic Flight Instrument System

EFIS

“Eee Fis”

EFIS Flight Deck

Electronic Instruments versus electro-mechanical instruments (steam gauges).

EFIS is called “glass” because they are CRT screens and more recently, LCD’s.They have no moving parts to fail.

Electronic Instruments

Originally, electronic instruments closely resembled their electro-mechanical predecessors.

These examples show LCD displays that have both analog and digital readouts.

“Wall to Wall Glass” page 120

Textbook page 122

EADI“Eee ADI”

EHSI“Eee HSI”

Schematic Display

Here is a display showing the schematic of the Environmental Control System.

It’s showing the bleed air system, the position of the bleed valves, and the temperature at various areas in the aircraft.

Textbook page 121

EFIS Architecture

Textbook page 124

Textbook page 122 “Highway in the sky” where the pilot aims the airplane at a rectangle (or hoop) and the screen and flys though it.

Boeing 747-400 EFIS-2

Airbus A-320-1

Airbus A-320-2

Review Q&A EFIS

17.1 What are 2 benefits of EFIS?Answer: Fewer moving parts and fewer separate.17.2 The EFIS screen directly in front of the pilot, which shows attitude instruments, is called a ____.Answer: Primary Flight Display17.3 The EFIS screen usually in the center of the instrument panel is the ____.Answer: EICAS17.4 The center screen of a typical airline displays EICAS, which means____.Answer: Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System17.5 An EFIS system can display BITE which stands for ____.Answer: Built-In Test Equipment17.6 The control yokes on recent Airbus aircraft are replaced by sidestick controllers. Why?Answer: They allow for an unobstructed view of the instrument panel.17.7 First-generation EFIS was based on cathode ray tubes. What replaced them?Answer: LCD’s (liquid crystal display)17.8 Why are fewer spares required to maintain an EFIS system.Answer: Because they have no moving parts and the good system can be switched in.17.9 What can a pilot do if images fail to appear on his EFIS screen?Answer: Switch to the good system.17.10 Why is it easier to troubleshoot a problem in flight with an EFIS-equipped airplane?Answer: Because of BITE and because of a schematic display.