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 are fundamental for basic flight information (airspeed, altitude, vertical speed), and their failures, often due to blockages, can lead to critical accidents, even in modern, automated aircraft.
• A blocked pitot tube typically causes erroneously high airspeed indications, which can dangerously prompt pilots to reduce speed and risk a stall (e.g., Northwest 6231, Air France 447).
• A blocked static port leads to inaccurate altimeter (frozen), vertical speed indicator (frozen at zero), and airspeed readings (inaccurate, depending on altitude changes from the blockage point).
• Mitigation involves activating pitot heat for pitot tube ice, using an alternate static source for static port blockages, and in emergencies, creating a temporary static source by breaking instrument glass, alongside crucial pilot knowledge and regular maintenance.

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