Is there a catchy term for the instrument panel on an airplane?

Question

I need to produce a title for a company bulletin and an aviation/navigation theme is being considered--is there some lingo used to describe the basic instruments (altimeter, turn/bank indicator, etc)??

Answer 1

As a commercial pilot, I've heard of a few...

Common ones I've heard are to refer to them as the "clocks" - e.g. to "have your head on the clocks" means to fly on instruments...

Also, as mentioned, there are "glass cockpits" - or "flying on glass" - or sometimes the older analogue instruments are called the "steam gauges"...

I'm not sure if this is much help, but I know of more terms and slang if you want it - so feel free to contact me too... :-)

Answer 2

We just call them instruments. Some people refer to instruments and the instrument panal in general as a "Glass Cockpit." A Glass cockpit is an aircraft that doesn't have the traditional needle and dial instruments. everything is displayed on MPD(Multi Purpose Display) screens. Hence, glass cockpit. I'm not sure what kind of company your with or what kind of bulletin your doing, so I don't know how helpful my information can be, but I am a commercial rotorcraft pilot and an A & P Mechanic, so if you would like to e-mail me, I may be able to give you some other good aviation type terms. hope that at least mades sense if it didn't help at all. Feel free to contact me.

Answer 3

The old style gages (needles) are usually referred to as "steam gages". Because the basic panel has 6 of them we usually call that arrangement a "six pack". So a standard six pack will mean the basic instruments with needles in them.

Some used to call the arrangement the "basic T" as that is the original configuration, 3 on top and one below the middle one. Some jetliners (I remember the 737-200) even have a white line painted around them outlining the T shape.

FYI the basic 6 are speed, attitude, altitude, turn and bank, direction and climb/descent.

The new generation have screens and therefore are usually called "glass cockpits".

Answer 4

Primary Flight Display or PFD is what is the term these days for the display that incorporates Airspeed Altitude, Attitude etc on an electronic system. (Commonly referred to as EFIS "Electronic flight instrument system")


Aviation is a world full of acronyms quite often may different ones for the same thing.

Answer 5

Cluster

Answer 6

Unfortunately, I believe its instrument panel.

Answer 7

rack ometer!
flyometer
button board
switch ometer board