Not sure about pilot training in the UK and US but most of the schools in
Australia
teach students to a C.L.E.A.R.O.F.F check every 15 minutes. A LOT can happen
to an engine
in 15 minutes (personal experience) and an alarm IMHO is the best way to go
as people get
tired and thus less vigilent, and you may be checking t's & p's etc, but not
actually
"seeing" them regardless of the gauge style especially on longer flights,
one option
for analogue gauges is to align them in the same way the old race cars did,
so all the needles should
point straight up or down under normal conditions, that way any needle not
vertical is instantly evident, it does however
give your panel an odd look with all your gauges at crazy angles.
craig
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com]On Behalf Of Duncan & Ami
McFadyean
Sent: Sunday, 18 November 2007 8:36 PM
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Re: Digital Readout Engine Gauges
<ami@mcfadyean.freeserve.co.uk>
Paul,
I agree about the car thing; but in that instance a specific number is being
sought (i.e. speed, to enable mental comparison to a limiting speed).
I have to say that an analogue needle pointing to a green arc can be seen
---From the corner of an eye, without need to focus, read and interpret. Much
easier in my view. Helps if the gauges aren't mounted at the bottom of the
panel, however.
The alarm facility on the digital gauges is without equal, especially as
analogue gauges probably don't get looked at very often, or not at the
precise moment needed !
Duncan McF.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Atkinson" <paullatkinson@talktalk.net>
Sent: Sunday, November 18, 2007 9:11 AM
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Re: Digital Readout Engine Gauges
> <paullatkinson@talktalk.net>
>
> Michael
>
> I am probably totally biased now but I have to disagree. I can't comment
> on any extra brain activity that may be required but having sat in front
> of several different types of digital display over a number of years I
> find them just as easy to use as analogue ones and actually prefer them.
> Probably the best type of display is one that combines the two. I am sure
> that it aids more accurate speed control, which is no bad thing,
> particularly in low speed flight near the ground.
> My car has a digital display (no analogue) and although it took a bit of
> getting used to I am very comfortable with it now, and no longer feel that
> an analogue display is necessary at all.
>
> Regards
>
>
> Paul Atkinson
>
>
> wrote:
>
>> Martin,
>> Be aware that only numerical displays impose additional workload to the
>> pilot. You would actually have to read the number and the brain has to
>> process the numbers and compare them mentally.
>> In your case, I would look for some instruments with a combined analog
>> and digital representation in one instrument.
>> Example is at
>>
http://www.sportflyingshop.com/Instr/Stratomaster/SmartSingles/smartsingles.
html
>> .
>> The nice thing about digital once is that many have a monitoring feature
>> and will ring an alarm when certain programmed levels are exceeded.
>> You find also nicer looking once in the automotive and aviation
>> industry if you look further.
>> Advantage of analog representation is that you just need to have a
>> short look at the instrument to see that all data are in the right area.
>> Much quicker and less workload to the brain. This is exactly the reason
>> why the digital representation in a car never took of.
>> Regards
>> Michael Grass
>> A266 Trigear
>> Detroit
>>
>
>
> --
> /
>
>
2:55 PM
2:55 PM
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