The glass cockpit is an industry standard technology utilized in modern aircrafts.
Originating in military aircraft in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the glass cockpit is a state-of-the-art electronic system of control and digital avionics. Since its inception, it has changed the aeronautic landscape and has enabled aviators to operate an aircraft in a more convenient, efficient, and safe manner.
The glass cockpit has improved the flight deck with digital multifunctional screens
Equipped in aircrafts used by most commercial airlines, an operational and systematic understanding of the glass cockpit facilitates immediate employment among pilots, as well as a lasting career in the aviation industry.
Understanding the Glass Cockpit
The glass cockpit provides improved aircraft operations and navigation through its Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS), a flight deck display setup that replaced the traditional dials found in what the industry called as “steam cockpit” that used to rely on mechanical gauges. Through individual primary flight screens, the Captain and the First Officer obtain access to aircraft status and various vital and pertinent information, such as attitude, heading, altitude, airspeed, lateral/vertical path, engine power, selected course, and navigation.
Additionally, the glass cockpit includes a Multifunction Display LCD that relays supplementary data such as radio management, aircraft systems, engine instruments, checklists, flight plan, terrain, traffic information, charts, traffic and weather, and wind direction and speed.
To provide supplementary information and function to the aircraft’s glass cockpit, Boeing developed the Engine-Indicating and Crew-Alerting System (EICAS), an integrated system that includes all engine instrumentation with crew advisory, caution, warning, and alert messages. In addition, Airbus developed the Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor (ECAM) system as support to EICAS. Designed to decrease pilot stress during emergency and abnormal situations, the ECAM system operates a color-coded scheme of information that instantly informs the pilot about a particular emergency situation and provides procedural assistance.
Effective Pilot Training with the glass cockpit
As a benchmark of efficiency in the aviation industry, it is advantageous for pilots to have the advanced skills necessary to operate an all-digital glass cockpit. Utilized by aircraft manufacturers globally, the glass cockpit is at the core of modern aircrafts dominating the commercial aviation industry today—such as the Boeing 737NG, Airbus A320 family, and the double-decker A380.
At Alpha Aviation Group (AAG), part of the comprehensive pilot training program is hands-on, real time training with the EASA-approved Level D Full Flight Airbus A320 Simulator. Furthermore, in contrast to other flight schools that still employs basic aircrafts with analog cockpits for its training, AAG is equipped with a modern single fleet of Cessna 172s outfitted with the similar glass cockpit system used in airliners. This advanced competency and knowledge about operating an innovative aircraft system is a surely beneficial to a pilot’s successful career.
The Cessna 172 is a four seater, single-engine aircraft equipped with modern digital avionics.
With the rising demand of competencies in the aviation industry, it is pertinent to acquire relevant experience, industry knowledge, and professional skills. At the Alpha Aviation Group, cadets are provided with targeted and effective training that fully prepares them for a rewarding career as licensed professional pilots and as aviation leaders.
For more information about AAG’s training program, contact us today.
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Photo Credits
Photo 1 from Lwp Kommunikáció via Flickr CC BY 2.0
Photo 2 from Charles Rinvechal via Flickr CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Photo 3 from AAG