Technically advanced aircraft
Lesson plan revised 13 February 2007; instrument theory.
Objective
The student should gain an understanding of the equipment and characteristics of technically advanced aircraft, and how it can affect safety and operations.
Elements
- Definition
- Components
- Training considerations
- Safety trends
- Operations
Schedule
| Introduction | 05 |
| Main body | 25 |
| Application | 05 |
| Conclusion | 05 |
| Total | 40 minutes |
Equipment
- model aircraft
- whiteboard and markers
- laptop with internet access and Avidyne trainer
- Avidyne manuals, printed or electronic
Online resources
- Technically Advanced Aircraft article from the AOPA Air Safety Foundation
- Avidyne PFD manual
- Avidyne MFD manual
Instructor actions
- Describe a technically advanced aircraft
- components
- levels of sophistication
- Explain training considerations and why they matter
- Using the Avidyne cockpit trainer, demonstrate usage of the PFD and MFD
- Evaluate student knowledge of the PFD and MFD through quizzing and guided discussion
Student actions
- Prepare by reviewing the PFD operation with the laptop trainer application
- Maintain active involvement by responding to questions and taking notes
- Demonstrate to the instructor a reasonable level of knowledge about the Avidyne glass cockpit
Completion standards
The lesson will be complete when the student can demonstrate a general knowledge of technically advanced aircraft and a practical level of understanding regarding specific Avidyne cockpit technology.
Teaching outline
- What defines a technically advanced aircraft?
- moving-map display
- IFR-approved GPS
- autopilot
- designed to reduce pilot workload and increaase situational awareness
Components
- Primary Flight Display
- combines multiple instruments
- larger display, better precision
- Multi-Function Display
- engine
- situational data
- Air Data Computer
- pitot-static system inputs
- OAT probe
- able to do most E6B calculations
- Attitude Heading & Reference System
- attitude and turn rate
- solid state gyros
- Magnetometer
- triaxial system (flux-gate compass)
- can conveniently provide heading information while inverted
Garmin G1000
- Two GIA 63 PFDs; one generally set as MFD
- ADC
- AHRS
- Magnetometer
Avidyne
- FlightMax PFD + Entegra MFD
- ADC
- AHRS
- Magnetometer
- failed PFD provides no data to MFD
- GPS1 + GPS2
Training considerations
- Because the systems are so much more complex, we need to spend more time learning them
- computer-based training tools are irreplaceable
- Until we understand how to use the systems, they might very well increase our risk levels
- Generally they are at least as safe, or more so, than conventional cockpits
Operation
Using the cockpit trainer, cover:
- PFD layout
- terminology
- ‘tape’ concept
- Various ‘bugs’ available for nav input
- heading
- altitude
- vsi
- Setting data
- baro
- nav selection and course entry
- MFD layout
- brightness control
- softkeys for data input and selection
- page knob (left)
- selection / range knob (right)
- message box – always bottom right
- MFD pages
- summarize available pages and data on each