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Alexandra Slabutu C13758205 DT011/2 Avionics Date: 21 December 2014
pg . 1
(B.Eng.Tech) Aviation Technology
Derek Charles
The Concept of Glass Cockpit in a Modern Commercial Aircraft
Alexandra Slabutu C13758205 DT011/2 Avionics Date: 21 December 2014
pg . 2
Declaration
This is an original work. All references and assistance are acknowledged.
Signed:
Date: 21 December 14
Candidate Name: Alexandra Slabutu
If an assignment or project or part of an assignment or project has been plagiarized from
any source, this will result in a fail for that assignment or project. (DIT, 2011)
Alexandra Slabutu C13758205 DT011/2 Avionics Date: 21 December 2014
pg . 3
Contents
1.Introduction ............................................................................................4
2.The Electronic Instrument System of Airbus A380..............................4
3.Conclusion..............................................................................................12
4.Referencing.............................................................................................13
Alexandra Slabutu C13758205 DT011/2 Avionics Date: 21 December 2014
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1.Introduction
As the air transport operations and the advancement of computer technology significantly
increasing among the years, together with the growing of air traffic congestion around airports
and other factors had impacted the design of airplane cockpit instrumentation. Today’s modern
aircraft, features its electronics instrument displays in so called ‘glass cockpit’. This new
complex concept has the advantage of minimizing the workload for pilots, thus focusing only on
the most pertinent information. The information given to the pilot is addressed into a
sophisticated LCD screen, prioritizing the messaging and therefore eliminating the old analog
insruments that once were clutering the cockpit environment.
Furthermore this assignment is going to analyze the different approaches developed by Boeing
and Airbus to the concept of a ‘Glass Cockpit’ and any future enhancement of this system,
followed by the description of the Electronic Instrument System (EIS) of A380.
2.The Electronic Instrument System of Airbus A380
Fig 1. A380 Display Units (A 380 Brief for Pilots 2006)
Digital computers have been implemented in today’s aircraft systems in order to promote a safer
flight and to save weight and fuel, thus making the aircraft more efficient too. The ‘glass cockpit’
of A 380 is very similar with the other airbus aircrafts such as A320, A330, A350 with only
minor changes witch will be discussed in this assignment.
Alexandra Slabutu C13758205 DT011/2 Avionics Date: 21 December 2014
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The EIS system of A 380 is called the Control and Display System (CDS) which consistes of
eight interchangeable LCD units and associated control panels. A380 Brief for Pilots (2006)
asserts that each DU can support different display format to enable reconfigurations in case of
loss of one or more displays. In normal operation , the CDS displays: two main components: the
Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) having two PFDs and two NDs, and Electronic
Centralised Aircraft Monitor(ECAM) (which can be also know as Engine Indication and Crew
Alerting System (EICAS), in other aircrafts, such as Boeing aircrafts) having one E/WD and one
SD, plus two Multi-Function Displays (MFDs).
The different displays can be controlled throgh the following CDS control panels: two EFIS
control panels, one ECAM CP, two KCCUs and two CDS display brightness panels.
Fig 2. Main Instrument Panel (A 380 Brief for Pilots 2006)
Fig 3. A380 Glareshield (A 380 Brief for Pilots 2006)
Alexandra Slabutu C13758205 DT011/2 Avionics Date: 21 December 2014
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According to A380 Brief for Pilots (2006), the EFIS is displayed on four display unists (DU),
showing flight paramenters and navigation data:
Two Primary Flight Display (PFD) units to show short term flight information and
Two Navigation Display (ND) units for navigation
The EFIS displays can be accessed by the flight crew through the EFIS control panels, Keyboard
and Cursor Control Unit (KCCU) and CDS RECONF control panels for reconfigurations.
Primary Flight Display (PFD) provides data on altitude, airspeed, attitude, heading, AFS status,
ILS deviation/marker and radio altitude, on the upper section of the unit and on the lower section
displays memos and limitations, slat/flap/trim positions. This DU replaces the convetional
classic T or six instrument configuration.
Fig 4. PFD (A 380 Brief for Pilots 2006)
The two NDs provide long-term flight information based on aircraft position with respect to
navigation aids, FMS flight plan and map data, weather radar information, and SURV
information on the upper section o the ND, called Main Zone.
Fig 5. ND (A 380 Brief for Pilots 2006)
Alexandra Slabutu C13758205 DT011/2 Avionics Date: 21 December 2014
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Weather radar information and SURV vertical information combined with the vertical flight
profile to provide a synthetic view of the aircraft’s vertical situation, are found on the lower
section of the ND, called Vertical Display.
Fig 6. ND- Lower section (A 380 Brief for Pilots 2006)
The Airbus ND can display myriad of information, as mentioned above, as well as grapfical and
textual data related to flight management. The different modes on the ND can be displayed using
EFIS control panel which is pictured below, Fig 7.
Fig 7. EFIS Control Panel (A 380 Brief for Pilots 2006)
The Integrated Standby Instrument System (ISIS) although is not part of the CDS system, it’s
main role is to provide backup flight and navigation displays in the case of an Air Data Inertial
Reference System (ADIRS), Flight Management System (FMD) or Control and Display System
(CDS) failure. The ISIS has two independent units, the Standby Flight Display (SFD) unit and
the Standby Navigation Display (SND) unit which computes and displays : pitch and roll
attitude, side slip, ILS display etc and backup navigation aids (NAVAIDS), capability to
manually insert geographical waypoints, GPS position.
Alexandra Slabutu C13758205 DT011/2 Avionics Date: 21 December 2014
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The Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitoring (ECAM) is designed to provide information
to the pilot about normal and abnormal procedures. It incorporates engine displays, as well as
airframe. This system is the major reason to the modern two-crew flight deck as in the past, it
took a flight engineer to operate the instrument panel alone.
Fig. 8 A380 ECAM Architecture (A 380 Brief for Pilots 2006)
The ECAM is composed of:
Two Flight Warning Systems (F/WS) that compute alerts and manage the display of the
ECAM information
One ECAM Control Panel (ECP)
Two sets of visual attention-getters
Four loudspeakers for aural warnings
The ECAM is displayed on four display units:
The Engine/Warning Dsplay (E/WD)
The System Dispay (SD)
The lower part of the two PFD DUs
The E/WD display is divided into two sections:
The top section (Engine Display Zone) displays the engine primary parameters
The bottom section (Warning Display Zone) displays either of the following:
i) In normal operations:
(a) Checklist menus and items requested by the pilot and also all the memos
ii) In abnormal operations:
(a) Failure related procedure
(b) Deffered procedures
(c) Not sensed abnormal procedures and associated menus requested by the pilots
(d) All the limitations due to the failure
Alexandra Slabutu C13758205 DT011/2 Avionics Date: 21 December 2014
pg . 9
(e) Advisory indications
(f) Status indication, fallowing an ECAM Alert
Fig 10. A380 E/WD (A 380 Brief for Pilots 2006)
The Systems Display (SD) is divided into three sections. The top section while in normal operations gives a synoptic page or the More Information page, and when in abnormal operations provides the failure related system synoptic page and the Status page after the flight crew has cleared the procedure(s) on the E/WD. The center section (Permanent Data Zone) mainly provides temperature, time and aircraft weight data. The bottom section displays the ATC Mailbox. In the case that there will be more information available, the More appears next to the Status title. The additional information can relate to
different SD system synoptic pages, such as: APU, BLEED, COND, CRUISE, FUEL etc.
Fig 11. SD Cruise page (A 380 Brief for Pilots 2006)
Alexandra Slabutu C13758205 DT011/2 Avionics Date: 21 December 2014
pg . 10
PFD
The lower section of the PFD is dedicated to display in addition to the E/WD, the memos and
limitations that have a direct impact on the aircraft flight performance.
ECAM Operation
While in the normal operation, the ECAM gives the flight crew the apropriate information in
order to assist them with the monitoring and operation of the aircraft systems. For example the
system synoptic pages on the SD are automaticallly displayed in acordance with the flight phase,
however it can also be requested manually. The ECAM system also manages aural altitude
callouts and decision-height announcements during approach.
During abnormal operation, the ECAM helps the pilots to manage system failures and aircraft
abnormal configurations by producing visual and aural warnings and cautions, if failures are
detected; providing associated procedures and associated limitations and memos, if any;
displaying the applicable system sypnotic pages; providing abnormal not sensed procedures, on
flight crew request. The ECAM also computes flight phases to inhibit warnings and cautions that
can be postponed, for example during takeoff and landing.
Colour coding is given to various situations in order of importance, to attract the pilot attention,
as shown in Figure 12.
Fig 12. ECAM Colour Coding (A 380 Brief for Pilots 2006)
Alexandra Slabutu C13758205 DT011/2 Avionics Date: 21 December 2014
pg . 11
The Multi Funtional Display Units
Fig 12. MFD (A 380 Brief for Pilots 2006)
There are two MFDs in the A380 part of the ECAM, these being the main components that
makes this aircraft differ from all other airbus aircrafts. This tool has the advantage of giving the
pilot as much information as three unit displays. Data such as radio information, gear, flaps,
speed breaks fuel load, EGT and oil pressure can be displayed.
Alexandra Slabutu C13758205 DT011/2 Avionics Date: 21 December 2014
pg . 12
3. Conclusion
This assignment has analysed the concept of ‘glass cockpit’and its impact on today’s modern
aircrafts which has proved to ease the workload for the flight crew by providing in sequence the
most esential data, on flat screen dispays LCD, replacing the CRT. Recent aircraft avionic
system is merely comprised of PFD’s, MFDs, GPS and autopilot features.[FAA Chapter 10.
Electronic Instrumentation]
It has also been looked at the A380 electrical instrumentation, mainly focusing on the EFIS and
ECAM display units and enphasising the MFD as being the primarily feature differenciating
A380 from its other airbus family counterparts. During the research, the information based on
articles such as [Boeing Software, Innovative 787 Flight Deck and A380 Brief for Pilots 2006
articles] has underlined the different approaces used by both Airbus and Boeing in relation to the
‘glass cockpit’ concept, which resulted with very little and almost no contrast. Both OEMs have
same objective in providing the right solution to its aircrafts and flight crew. The only
differences which are very few, are mainly based on the terminology given to various systems or
diplay units. Perfect examples being ECAM and EICAS, two different names given to the exact
system. The Control and Display System (CDS) for A380 and Control Display Unit (CDU) for
B787 being another example.
Nevertheless it is worth mentioning a unique caracteristic that EICAS has, compared with the
airbus ECAM, that being that, it automatically records the parameters of a failure event or it can
be innitiated by the pilots by pressing the record button on the display select panel, if they think a
problem has arose during flight (hydraulical, electrical,performance etc) which then is brought to
the attention of the maintenance staff.
The only downside in relation to the differences of terminology, is that it may somehow bring
confusion to some of the flight crew or maintenance staff that are new to one of the systems,
after being used to operate on the other.
Alexandra Slabutu C13758205 DT011/2 Avionics Date: 21 December 2014
pg . 13
4. References:
A 380 Brief for Pilots (2006). Retrieved 2014, Dec 10
http://www.smartcockpit.com/aircraft-ressources/A380_Briefing_For_Pilots_Part%202.html
FAA Chapter 10 – Aircraft Instrument Systems (n/d). Retieved 2014, Dec 12
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:yKaDNALPixEJ:https://www.faa.gov/r
egulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aircraft/amt_airframe_handbook/media/ama_Ch10.pdf+
&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ie
Boeing Software (n/d). Retrieved 2014, Dec 12
http://www.projectmagenta.com/boeing-software/
Innovative 787 Flight Deck (n/d). Retrieved 2014, Dec 11
http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/articles/2012_q1/3/