Pitot-Static Systems

No matter how much automation we fly behind, no matter how many air-data computers are installed and no matter how simple it is, it’s likely a pitot-static system—pretty much like the one Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic—is what generates airspeed and some other basic flight information aboard the aircraft we fly. These systems are relatively simple, consisting of basic sensors, some plumbing and sensitive instrumentation. The difference in air pressure does all the work.

Key Takeaways:

• Pitot-static systems, though simple, are critical for basic flight information like airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed, and are vulnerable to blockages by ice, moisture, or foreign objects.
• A blocked pitot tube causes erroneous airspeed indications (airspeed increases with climb), which can lead to pilot misinterpretation, over-pitching, and catastrophic stalls, as seen in accidents like Northwest Airlines Flight 6231 and Air France Flight 447.
• A blocked static port affects the altimeter (which will become stuck), the vertical speed indicator (showing zero), and the airspeed indicator (which will read inaccurately depending on altitude relative to the blockage).
• Pilots must understand these failure modes, utilize pitot heat for pitot tube blockages, and be prepared to use an alternate static source or emergency measures (like breaking the VSI or standby altimeter glass) for static port blockages, alongside regular system maintenance.

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