However, the basic elements involved in displaying the flight parameters are the same in every plane.
These devices show most of the traditional analog gauges and indicators on a single screen.
The system also visualizes the terrain in front of the aircraft.
During the flight, it models hills and mountains, and even runways with taxiways.
By default, the system consists of two screens:
Primary Flight Display
1 -GPS map.
The buttons at the bottom change the scale of the map.
TAS (True Air Speed) and GS (Ground Speed) are also shown in the screen.
2 -Airspeed Indicator- shows the current speed in knots.
It shows which modes the autopilot is currently in.
Check the Autopilot chapter of our guide to find out more about this system.
5 -Atitude Indicator- shows the aircraft’s current position relative to the horizon.
6 -Horizontal Situation Indicator- an extended version of the Compass Rose.
HDG (Heading bug) - course set for the Autopilot mode.
7 -Altitude Indicator- shows the current altitude above sea level in feet.
This information is usually provided by the ATC controller.
8- Distance and course to the current GPS navigation point.
Multifunction Flight Display
1 -GPS map
2 -engine operation indicators: RPM, temp.
and oil pressure, etc.
It shows the location of the clouds and their jot down.
The redder the field, the worse the weather conditions get.
Differences in other models
The main PFD screen can be surrounded by buttons on the sides.
They are mainly used to operate Autopilot and radio.
This is the case with the Cessna 172.
Their functions depend on the current screen mode.
Note that many planes have the secondary analog gauges of the main flight parameters.
In large, older passenger planes, the cockpit looks even more different.
However, just in front of the pilot’s seat there are some familiar-looking indicators available.
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