7 Considerations to Make When Upgrading to a Glass Cockpit
The latest white paper from Intellisense Systems looks at the many advantages and a few potential pitfalls when upgrading an aircraft’s control panel to a glass cockpit.
The term “glass cockpit” refers to an airplane’s control panel that relays information (such as altitude, air speed, and angle of attack) to the pilots via displays and screens. Fifty years ago, every aircraft cockpit featured analog gauges and mechanical instrumentation that showed vital flight and navigational information to pilots. But with the advent of computerized systems that could show critical info on liquid crystal displays (LCDs), multiple indicators could be combined onto one screen. This approach simplifies both the operation of the aircraft and is more reliable with the removal of moving parts. Ultimately, glass cockpits enable pilots to focus solely on the most pertinent information while in flight.
Even though they have been ubiquitous in aircraft since the 1970s, some important aircraft still use analog gauges and dials. Two examples are the UH-60A and UH-60L variants of the Sikorsky “Black Hawk” helicopter, which has served in the U.S. Military since 1979. The control panels on both these helicopters were growing outdated and difficult to maintain due to the limited availability of replacement parts for dials, gauges, labels, and certain types of glass. The helicopter needed a full control panel upgrade to avoid obsolescence.
Thankfully, the new UH-60V version of the Black Hawk helicopter addressed that outmoded control panel with a glass cockpit. This new cockpit features four clear displays, a centralized processor, and a flight program with improved processing. The new system’s open architecture can also accept future software upgrades in the years ahead. This open and scalable system eases the pilots’ stress load and improves their situational awareness. Moreover, it makes the operation of the helicopter far more efficient by reducing both weight and power consumption. This upgrade is expected to extend the helicopter’s service time by at least another decade.
This experience with the UH-60V retrofit and other programs has led Intellisense Systems to publish a white paper on seven considerations to make when upgrading to a glass cockpit. Those considerations include:
Ease-of-use
Reliability
Upgradability
Cost-effectiveness
Information dissemination
Ruggedization
Electrical needs
This paper also presents several solutions for operational flight programs seeking to upgrade their control panels to a glass cockpit. These solutions integrate the most cutting-edge display technology with an open architecture to accommodate legacy systems and accept future software enhancements.
Download the full white paper by completing the form on the right.
The term “glass cockpit” refers to an airplane’s control panel that relays information (such as altitude, air speed, and angle of attack) to the pilots via displays and screens. Fifty years ago, every aircraft cockpit featured analog gauges and mechanical instrumentation that showed vital flight and navigational information to pilots. But with the advent of computerized systems that could show critical info on liquid crystal displays (LCDs), multiple indicators could be combined onto one screen. This approach simplifies both the operation of the aircraft and is more reliable with the removal of moving parts. Ultimately, glass cockpits enable pilots to focus solely on the most pertinent information while in flight.
Even though they have been ubiquitous in aircraft since the 1970s, some important aircraft still use analog gauges and dials. Two examples are the UH-60A and UH-60L variants of the Sikorsky “Black Hawk” helicopter, which has served in the U.S. Military since 1979. The control panels on both these helicopters were growing outdated and difficult to maintain due to the limited availability of replacement parts for dials, gauges, labels, and certain types of glass. The helicopter needed a full control panel upgrade to avoid obsolescence.
Thankfully, the new UH-60V version of the Black Hawk helicopter addressed that outmoded control panel with a glass cockpit. This new cockpit features four clear displays, a centralized processor, and a flight program with improved processing. The new system’s open architecture can also accept future software upgrades in the years ahead. This open and scalable system eases the pilots’ stress load and improves their situational awareness. Moreover, it makes the operation of the helicopter far more efficient by reducing both weight and power consumption. This upgrade is expected to extend the helicopter’s service time by at least another decade.
This experience with the UH-60V retrofit and other programs has led Intellisense Systems to publish a white paper on seven considerations to make when upgrading to a glass cockpit. Those considerations include:
