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 "steam gauge" no-gyro emergency, pilots must recognize gradual gyro failure, prioritize recovery from unusual attitudes using the turn coordinator, airspeed, and altimeter, and cover inoperative instruments.
- A single IFR GPS is a vital aid, particularly its ground track display, but pilots must use it cautiously in conjunction with the turn coordinator for heading control to avoid overbanking.
- Pilots should declare a "no-gyro" emergency with ATC, prioritize aircraft control, and carefully plan the safest landing by considering diversion to VFR conditions or airports with higher minimums, while being mindful of the challenges of various approach types and no-gyro vectors.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
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