Pilots fly planes with screens.
These look like big tablets. They show many things at once. This helps pilots see well. It makes flying safer for us.
Do you like screens?
Pilots use screens to fly planes.
These screens are called glass cockpits. Old planes used many small dials.
These screens show much more info. They help pilots see clearly. This makes flying easier and safer. Even space ships use them now.
They help pilots know where to go.
A glass cockpit is a way to fly planes using screens.
Most old planes used many small dials. These were called analog gauges.
Today, many planes use large LCD screens instead. LCD stands for liquid-crystal display. These screens show important flight data. They can show maps and weather. Some even show a 3D view of the ground. This is called a synthetic vision system. It helps pilots see the world clearly.
These systems make flying easier. Pilots can focus on the most important facts. This helps them stay aware of their surroundings. Glass cockpits are also lighter than old tools. This helped NASA use them in space shuttles.
Even small planes now use these screens. Some use touchscreens to work like a computer. This makes flying more modern and efficient.
A glass cockpit is a modern way to fly aircraft. Instead of using many small mechanical dials, pilots use large electronic screens. These screens are often liquid-crystal displays, or LCDs.
Traditional cockpits used many analog gauges nicknamed "steam gauges." These gauges showed things like speed and height using moving parts. A glass cockpit uses multi-function displays to show only the most important information. This helps pilots focus on flying without being distracted by too many tools. It also helps airlines save money because they may not need a flight engineer.
These systems work by using digital data to create a clear picture. Modern sensors feed information into the screens. For example, electronic attitude and heading reference systems, or AHRS, replace old spinning tools. Air data computers, or ADCs, also help provide information.
Some systems even use synthetic vision, which is a 3D view of the ground. This looks like a flight simulator and uses a database of the terrain. Other systems use infrared cameras to show real-time views. Pilots can often control these screens with a joystick, a thumb pad, or even a touchscreen. This makes the cockpit behave much like a computer.
Glass cockpits first appeared in military planes during the late 1960s and early 1970s. An early example was the Mark II system in the F-111D aircraft.
Before this time, computers were not light or powerful enough for planes. In the mid-1970s, transport planes had over one hundred different instruments. This made the cockpit very crowded and hard to read. NASA began researching new displays to turn raw data into easy pictures. Their successful research helped everyone accept electronic displays in all kinds of flying. The Boeing 2707 was one of the first commercial planes designed for this technology.
Many famous aircraft use these digital systems today. Large planes like the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 use LCD units.
Even NASA used them in space shuttles like Atlantis and Discovery. The first orbiter to get a glass cockpit was Endeavour in the year 2000. Smaller planes also use them now. In 2003, the Cirrus SR20 and SR22 became the first light aircraft with these screens. By 2005, even basic trainers like the Cessna 172 could have them as an option.
Using these screens connects flying to the technology we use every day. Many glass cockpits look and act like the computers or tablets we own. They use windows and data that can be clicked or moved. Even small toy drones use similar screens to show flight information.
Because pilots rely on these screens, they must train for what to do if a screen fails. Most planes have a standby instrument system to help. This system is separate and runs on a backup battery for several hours. This ensures the pilot always knows the plane's speed and height.
A glass cockpit is an advanced flight deck that uses electronic digital displays. Instead of using many mechanical dials, pilots use large liquid-crystal display (LCD) screens. These displays provide essential flight information through multi-function displays and a primary flight display. This technology is driven by complex flight management systems. It simplifies aircraft operation and navigation for the crew. By showing only the most pertinent information, it helps pilots focus on flying.
This system also benefits airlines by reducing costs. Often, these digital cockpits eliminate the need for a dedicated flight engineer.
The mechanism behind a glass cockpit relies on modern sensors and computers. Traditional gyroscopic flight instruments have been replaced by electronic systems. For example, electronic attitude and heading reference systems (AHRS) provide stability data. Air data computers (ADC) process information about the air around the plane. These sensors feed digital data directly into the LCD units. GPS receivers are also usually integrated into these modern systems. This digital chain allows for much higher reliability than old mechanical parts.
Glass cockpits have evolved through several distinct technological stages. Early versions, like those in the McDonnell Douglas MD-80, used electronic flight instrument systems (EFIS). These only showed attitude and navigational information while keeping mechanical gauges for speed and altitude. Later, the Boeing 757 introduced the electronic engine-indicating and crew-alerting system (EICAS). This allowed pilots to monitor engine performance digitally. Modern cockpits, such as those in the Boeing 787 or Airbus A350, have completely replaced mechanical gauges. Some even use an integrated standby instrument system as a digital backup.
The history of this technology began in military aircraft during the late 1960s. An early example was the Mark II avionics system used in the F-111D. Before the 1970s, computer technology was not light or powerful enough for aviation. In the mid-1970s, transport aircraft were very crowded. A single cockpit could have more than one hundred different instruments and controls. This created a massive struggle for pilot attention. NASA conducted research to turn raw flight data into integrated, easy-to-understand pictures. Their successful research led to the total acceptance of electronic displays today.
Today, glass cockpits are found in many different types of vehicles. Large airliners like the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 use them extensively. Even NASA utilized this technology in Space Shuttle orbiters. The Endeavour was the first orbiter retrofitted with a glass cockpit in 2000. Other orbiters like Columbia and Discovery followed later. The technology has also moved into general aviation. In 2003, the Cirrus SR20 and SR22 became the first light aircraft with these screens. By 2005, even basic trainers like the Cessna 172 offered them as an option.
Modern displays offer surprising features that deepen a pilot's understanding of the world. Some systems use synthetic vision systems (SVS) to create a 3D depiction of the terrain. This looks very similar to a high-end flight simulator. Other aircraft use enhanced flight vision systems (EFVS) with infrared cameras. These cameras add real-time information from external sensors to the screen. Many new cockpits behave like computers with windows and data. Pilots can often use a trackball, thumb pad, or joystick to interact with the display. The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II even uses a panoramic touchscreen.
Because pilots rely so heavily on these systems, safety is a major focus. If a display fails, the crew must be trained to react quickly. In 2008, United Airlines Flight 731 experienced a serious blackout of several displays. Luckily, the pilots were able to land safely in good weather. To prevent total loss of information, aircraft include a standby instrument system. This system is electronically separate from the main displays. It can run on a backup battery for several hours. This ensures the pilot always has an artificial horizon, altimeter, and airspeed indicator.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (6)
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🔬 Go deeper
More advanced topics to explore
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.