Instrument Issues

Instruments have been a part of aviation since the first flights by the Wright Flyer equipped with a stopwatch, an anemometer to measure wind speed and a Veedor to measure engine revolutions. With the increase of flight activity in the early years of aviation, aircraft instruments were invented that provided necessary information to pilots for precise control and navigation of their aircraft.

Thursday, February 16, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Pilots and aircraft owners must deeply understand the diverse operating principles and unique failure modes of all instrument systems—including pressure (pitot-static), vacuum, and electrical—which are critical for safe flight and effective troubleshooting.
Meticulous and proactive maintenance, such as addressing leaks, replacing worn components, and protecting against environmental factors, is essential to ensure instrument accuracy, reliability, and to prevent dangerous system failures.
The integrity and accuracy of aircraft instrumentation directly impact performance, pilot decision-making, and overall flight safety; therefore, any identified deficiencies must be promptly repaired or replaced to avoid serious consequences.

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Instruments have been a part of aviation since the first flights by the Wright Flyer equipped with a stopwatch, an anemometer to measure wind speed and a “Veedor” to measure engine revolutions. With the increase of flight activity in the early years of aviation, aircraft instruments were invented that provided necessary information to pilots for precise control and navigation of their aircraft.

In your role as a pilot—and especially if you’re an aircraft owner—it’s important to understand not only how aircraft instruments work but also be knowledgeable of the systems that they interface with. The maintenance and care of an aircraft, its systems and required inspections are a task for which the aircraft owner is responsible. And it is not an easy one.