Glass cockpit hard to read

On Oct 6, 10:21 am, Arno wrote:
Hello,

I am computer scientist and usually really like fancy technology. But
I just had my first flight with a "glass" PFD (Avidyne) and must say I
am not impressed. In particular reading altitude and airpeed from
these scrolling bands requires a lot more attention than with regular
gauges, just like reading a digital clock takes longer than reading an
analog one. Glancing at it and checking against a known picture, like
"speed at 3 o'clock is fine on final" or "altitude at 20 minutes past
midnight is minimum", just does not work anymore, instead I end up
reading the actual numbers every time I look. Does anyone feel the
same? Am I missing a particular technique?

Arno

I am a fellow computer geek, and a student pilot. I usually fly a
plane with steam gauges, but a couple of times now I have flown with
digital displays. Like you, I found it a little hard to adjust to the
digital displays. The digital displays I was using presented altitude
and tachometer values simply as numbers. The analog displays I am
used to present these values as positions on a dial, showing the
current value in its context of a spectrum of values. With the analog
displays, I am used to adjusting the position of the pointer. With
the digital display, I need to simply set the correct numerical
value. It's a little mental adjustment, and given that I am a newbie
to all this it is an extra distraction.

But, I do think that it is mostly a matter of what you are used to.
If you started out working with a digital display, and had to switch
to a steam gauge, I think it would be just as much of an adjustment.
I think that the human brain is a pretty flexible instrument, and I
suspect it wouldn't take long to get used to setting a numerical value
rather than the position of a needle on a dial. Both are valid
methods of presenting the information. Either way, it is simply a
feedback mechanism you use to make sure the airplane is doing what it
should.

Phil

Phil wrote in news:1191696116.820241.83540@
19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com:

On Oct 6, 10:21 am, Arno wrote:
Hello,

I am computer scientist and usually really like fancy technology. But
I just had my first flight with a "glass" PFD (Avidyne) and must say
I
am not impressed. In particular reading altitude and airpeed from
these scrolling bands requires a lot more attention than with regular
gauges, just like reading a digital clock takes longer than reading
an
analog one. Glancing at it and checking against a known picture, like
"speed at 3 o'clock is fine on final" or "altitude at 20 minutes past
midnight is minimum", just does not work anymore, instead I end up
reading the actual numbers every time I look. Does anyone feel the
same? Am I missing a particular technique?

Arno

I am a fellow computer geek, and a student pilot. I usually fly a
plane with steam gauges, but a couple of times now I have flown with
digital displays. Like you, I found it a little hard to adjust to the
digital displays. The digital displays I was using presented altitude
and tachometer values simply as numbers. The analog displays I am
used to present these values as positions on a dial, showing the
current value in its context of a spectrum of values. With the analog
displays, I am used to adjusting the position of the pointer. With
the digital display, I need to simply set the correct numerical
value. It's a little mental adjustment, and given that I am a newbie
to all this it is an extra distraction.

But, I do think that it is mostly a matter of what you are used to.



Flying is a right hand brain activity. At least the handling portion is.
The right hand side of the brain dosn't do abstractions like numbers, at
least not until the left hand side (which can't fly worth a ****) sends
it over to the right side in a readily digestable form which enables the
right brain to chew it into a picture.

An analogue display cuts the left hand side out of the loop and enables
the calcualtion rate to increase the right sides "frame rate" so that
corrections can be made more frequently thus enabling the pilot to fly
the airplane more smooothly and with more authority.
Caorse rule of thumb math can be laid over this for descent angles,
interceptin angles and wo on, but generally, the fewer numbers involved,
the better.
People who prefer the numbers usualy don't fly very well at all.


You don't do trig while you're shooting pool and expect to win the game.


Bertie

In article ,
Bertie the Bunyip wrote:

You don't do trig while you're shooting pool and expect to win the game.

You're right, I do geometry. :-))

john smith wrote in
:

In article ,
Bertie the Bunyip wrote:

You don't do trig while you're shooting pool and expect to win the
game.

You're right, I do geometry. :-))




Nobody can do geometry properly with the required alchohol load to play
pool properly

Bertie

Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
john smith wrote in
:

In article ,
Bertie the Bunyip wrote:

You don't do trig while you're shooting pool and expect to win the
game.

You're right, I do geometry. :-))

Nobody can do geometry properly with the required alchohol load to play
pool properly

I consider it well played if I manage to hit the cue ball with the cue
stick. And that's sometimes with no alcohol load. I then pray (a dubious
thing for an atheist to do) for fortuitous stochastic scattering to align
with my prediction.

"Bertie the Bunyip" wrote in message
.. .
Phil wrote in news:1191696116.820241.83540@
19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com:

On Oct 6, 10:21 am, Arno wrote:
Hello,

I am computer scientist and usually really like fancy technology. But
I just had my first flight with a "glass" PFD (Avidyne) and must say
I
am not impressed. In particular reading altitude and airpeed from
these scrolling bands requires a lot more attention than with regular
gauges, just like reading a digital clock takes longer than reading
an
analog one. Glancing at it and checking against a known picture, like
"speed at 3 o'clock is fine on final" or "altitude at 20 minutes past
midnight is minimum", just does not work anymore, instead I end up
reading the actual numbers every time I look. Does anyone feel the
same? Am I missing a particular technique?

Arno

I am a fellow computer geek, and a student pilot. I usually fly a
plane with steam gauges, but a couple of times now I have flown with
digital displays. Like you, I found it a little hard to adjust to the
digital displays. The digital displays I was using presented altitude
and tachometer values simply as numbers. The analog displays I am
used to present these values as positions on a dial, showing the
current value in its context of a spectrum of values. With the analog
displays, I am used to adjusting the position of the pointer. With
the digital display, I need to simply set the correct numerical
value. It's a little mental adjustment, and given that I am a newbie
to all this it is an extra distraction.

But, I do think that it is mostly a matter of what you are used to.



Flying is a right hand brain activity. At least the handling portion is.
The right hand side of the brain dosn't do abstractions like numbers, at
least not until the left hand side (which can't fly worth a ****) sends
it over to the right side in a readily digestable form which enables the
right brain to chew it into a picture.

An analogue display cuts the left hand side out of the loop and enables
the calcualtion rate to increase the right sides "frame rate" so that
corrections can be made more frequently thus enabling the pilot to fly
the airplane more smooothly and with more authority.
Caorse rule of thumb math can be laid over this for descent angles,
interceptin angles and wo on, but generally, the fewer numbers involved,
the better.
People who prefer the numbers usualy don't fly very well at all.


You don't do trig while you're shooting pool and expect to win the game.


Bertie

Very well said!

Peter

"Peter Dohm" wrote in news:x1SNi.1432$aa.376
@bignews1.bellsouth.net:


"Bertie the Bunyip" wrote in message
.. .
Phil wrote in news:1191696116.820241.83540@
19g2000hsx.googlegroups.com:

On Oct 6, 10:21 am, Arno wrote:
Hello,

I am computer scientist and usually really like fancy technology.
But
I just had my first flight with a "glass" PFD (Avidyne) and must
say
I
am not impressed. In particular reading altitude and airpeed from
these scrolling bands requires a lot more attention than with
regular
gauges, just like reading a digital clock takes longer than reading
an
analog one. Glancing at it and checking against a known picture,
like
"speed at 3 o'clock is fine on final" or "altitude at 20 minutes
past
midnight is minimum", just does not work anymore, instead I end up
reading the actual numbers every time I look. Does anyone feel the
same? Am I missing a particular technique?

Arno

I am a fellow computer geek, and a student pilot. I usually fly a
plane with steam gauges, but a couple of times now I have flown with
digital displays. Like you, I found it a little hard to adjust to
the
digital displays. The digital displays I was using presented
altitude
and tachometer values simply as numbers. The analog displays I am
used to present these values as positions on a dial, showing the
current value in its context of a spectrum of values. With the
analog
displays, I am used to adjusting the position of the pointer. With
the digital display, I need to simply set the correct numerical
value. It's a little mental adjustment, and given that I am a
newbie
to all this it is an extra distraction.

But, I do think that it is mostly a matter of what you are used to.



Flying is a right hand brain activity. At least the handling portion
is.
The right hand side of the brain dosn't do abstractions like numbers,
at
least not until the left hand side (which can't fly worth a ****)
sends
it over to the right side in a readily digestable form which enables
the
right brain to chew it into a picture.

An analogue display cuts the left hand side out of the loop and
enables
the calcualtion rate to increase the right sides "frame rate" so that
corrections can be made more frequently thus enabling the pilot to
fly
the airplane more smooothly and with more authority.
Caorse rule of thumb math can be laid over this for descent angles,
interceptin angles and wo on, but generally, the fewer numbers
involved,
the better.
People who prefer the numbers usualy don't fly very well at all.


You don't do trig while you're shooting pool and expect to win the
game.


Bertie

Very well said!


Thenkew

Bertie

"Bertie the Bunyip" wrote:

An analogue display cuts the left hand side out of the loop and enables
the calcualtion rate to increase the right sides "frame rate" so that
corrections can be made more frequently thus enabling the pilot to fly
the airplane more smooothly and with more authority.
Caorse rule of thumb math can be laid over this for descent angles,
interceptin angles and wo on, but generally, the fewer numbers involved,
the better.
People who prefer the numbers usualy don't fly very well at all.


Bless you, my boy.

I thought the reason I hated the tapes was that I'm just an old fogie. Now I
know it's because I'm a natural!

Most gratifying news.


--
Dan
T-182T at BFM

"Dan Luke" wrote in
:


"Bertie the Bunyip" wrote:

An analogue display cuts the left hand side out of the loop and
enables the calcualtion rate to increase the right sides "frame rate"
so that corrections can be made more frequently thus enabling the
pilot to fly the airplane more smooothly and with more authority.
Caorse rule of thumb math can be laid over this for descent angles,
interceptin angles and wo on, but generally, the fewer numbers
involved, the better.
People who prefer the numbers usualy don't fly very well at all.


Bless you, my boy.

I thought the reason I hated the tapes was that I'm just an old fogie.
Now I know it's because I'm a natural!


'xactly.

've had a speed tape in front of me for years now and I still look right
past it to the ASI. It does have a useful function in that it flashes if I
get more than a few knots away from bug speed whilst hand flying, but
intuitive use of the ASI needle is al I have found I'd ever need.

Most gratifying news.



That's why the name Berite the Bunyip is a byword for service.


Bertie

Bertie the Bunyip writes:

Flying is a right hand brain activity. At least the handling portion is.
The right hand side of the brain dosn't do abstractions like numbers, at
least not until the left hand side (which can't fly worth a ****) sends
it over to the right side in a readily digestable form which enables the
right brain to chew it into a picture.

An analogue display cuts the left hand side out of the loop and enables
the calcualtion rate to increase the right sides "frame rate" so that
corrections can be made more frequently thus enabling the pilot to fly
the airplane more smooothly and with more authority.

Most of this is pure speculation, although it is interesting.

People who prefer the numbers usualy don't fly very well at all.

Unless, of course, they are flying an airliner in which systems are more
important than hand-flying. In that case, they may be a lot better at it.

You don't do trig while you're shooting pool and expect to win the game.

Some people do (cf. card counters).