An EFIS is a flight deck gadget system that’s mostly used for display purposes. The display technology in this aircraft is usually electronic instead of the normal electromechanical. The old systems of this instrument use the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) technology to display information while as the latest versions use Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) technology. These LCD screens have replaced most instruments pilots used before hence making them more reliable and efficient.
A typical EFIS aircraft is comprised of these major parts:
• The Primary Flight Display (PFD).
• The Electronic Attitude Direction Indicator (EADI).
• An Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator (EHSI).
Primary Flight Display
THE PFD is a unique instrument that integrates and depicts every information that had been historically presented on several electromechanical devices. This instrument has gone through lots of evolution over the years. The PFD has evolved from being a flight director combination or basic attitude indicator to an Electronic Attitude Direction Indicator (EADI). Therefore, this instrument has evolved to be more advanced since it now shows more information such as the airspeed, altitude, and even the heading, which is impressive.
The modern Primary Flight Display is more vital as it displays all the crucial information that a pilot needs when determining the basic flight parameters such as the altitude, airspeed, heading, and rate of climb. In addition, this instrument enables the pilot to decide the autothrottle and autopilot engagement status, approach status, and the flight director modes.
The flight director can also provide lateral guidance that’s necessary to help maintain the track, approach, or heading, and missed approach. However, all that depends on the pilot selections and phase of flight. Therefore, the flight director enables the pilot to reduce workload, especially when dealing with a manual trip. Also, the flight director enhances proper flight monitoring since the autopilot is engaged with all the necessary information available in one place.
The Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator EHSI
THE EHSI is mostly known as the Navigation Display. It replaces most instruments that are usually located on a conventional aircraft instrument panel. The Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator is used to complete many tasks. However, most people use it to show:
• The track or the heading selected.
• Heading flown.
• Aeronautical map.
• The lateral deviation from the track.
• Distance, ground speed, and the time to go.
The EFIS aircraft is vital and one of the most advanced instruments on the entire planet. The above two major parts of it have a variety of uses. However, the specific applications might vary depending on the exact design.
