If you’re flying behind round gauges—and plenty of us still are—you need to be ready for critical ones going belly-up. Used correctly, your GPS is a huge asset.
Partial Panel with GPS
Despite the magazine vogue of articles on glass cockpits and technologically advanced airplanes, thousands of us continue to fly steam gauges. A well-equipped steam-gauge airplane enables a competent pilot to fly the same mission that a glass airplane can fly. The Apollo spacecraft were steam-gauge equipped and carried men to the moon.
Key Takeaways:
- In a no-gyro emergency, pilots must first recognize the gradual failure of vacuum-driven gyros, regain aircraft control using the turn coordinator, airspeed, and altimeter, and then cover the inoperative instruments.
- Utilize the GPS ground track cautiously for heading information, integrating it with other instruments, and clearly declare a "no-gyro" emergency to ATC for maximum assistance without changing transponder codes.
- Develop a strategic plan by considering diversion to VFR conditions or the nearest suitable airport, carefully selecting an approach type (e.g., GPS or VOR, potentially avoiding sensitive ILS), and being prepared for potential challenges with ATC no-gyro vectors.
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