Dials or Glass? Your Preference?

[HighSpeedClimb]

That's why you turn off the FD as well!! Then you don't have to command any button pushing at all, just ask the other guy to do whatever he needs to do to back you up

Here you go, F/O beat me to the punch. We are encouraged to turn the FD off in a visual pattern just to keep the stick and rudder somewhat sharp. As for being bored in all glass...Nope, I've been all glass for 5 years flying similar destinations, and no two flights are alike. Just when you think you own the beast she catches you. How many times did ATC change a clearance that requires a descent point that is now behind you. Doh How many times have you glass guys gone "what the hell is it doing now!" I haven't gotten anywhere close to being bored. We have a mix of 200's and 700's and when I JS in the 200 I'm sooooo glad I'm not flying that thing. IMHO

 

[saviboy]

Hey! I was the first vote. I can't imagine why anyone would pine for an antiquated instrument presentation. I've flown the spectrum of instruments, and love the instant comprehension of EFIS. Having said that, though, I haven't flown a more integrated, fine flying aircraft than the 737-200. I hear the same thing from the DC-9 guys.

So. I guess the answer is to retrofit EFIS into old-ass aricraft. Just like UPS does.

Im gonna ask my company to retrofit our old piece of rust Metroliner.
Its gonna be great!!

 

[TinGoose1]

I find that I can get a deeper beta nap when I'm flying with glass. Steam gauges won't wake you up when they need something, glass will.

-TG

 

[sleddriver77]

In an airplane at work where I only have to worry about one type, I prefer glass. It *does* make you lazy, though. I'm sure if I had to try single pilot IFR in a light twin again tomorrow, I'd probably manage to kill myself. So big airplanes at work, GLASS. Little airplanes, steam gauges. I think it is rediculous that the new Cessnas, Pipers, and such require a TEN HOUR rental checkout to get used to all the avionics that God never intended to be installed in a piston single. I want to be able to jump from one piston single to another without needing to learn an entire new suite of avionics.

 

[FLYLOW22]

If the 777 had steam guages would you hand fly it more often?

Buy a steerman.

THE most retarded cockpit setup I'v ever worked with was EFIS by Brail.

Imagine this... FMS with round dials. No ND. Go ahead... program that TO/FROM relationship skippy!!

 

[30West]

Glass someday is inevitable, but for now I'm having fun barnstorming Africa flying yetserday's equipment into tomorrow!

 

[Alcatraz]

I've flown both (and some in between) quite a bit in the last 5-6 years.

My preference is similar to Ty's... moving map, VNAV, dual FMC, tapes for speed and altitude, but NO autothrottles. Or maybe no autothrottles after TOD... it's nice to have takeoff and climb thrust set perfectly, and managing cruise speed gets old after a while. In the 737 especially I've found I'm not comfortable trusting autothrottles during wave encounters.

The SA of a moving map can't be beat, especially when diversions become a factor (or when the FAs ask where we are!). VNAV works great when you finally figure out how to program it, and outsmart it. TCAS RAs displayed on the ADI are pretty darn effective, too.

The old steam guages on old jet aircraft are a bit of a novelty, though, requiring a lot more thought (kinda neat if I'm well rested).

But why would I rent a 172 with anything but steam? I don't want a ten hour checkout! All you need in a small aircraft are "vector-capable" comm radios...

Oh, and sorry for bumping a really old thread...

 

[Swaayze]

All glass for the daily grind, but dials are more fun!

WTF? Why did this thread pop up on my new posts? Just saw that the last post was 4 mos ago! Sorry for the re-resurrection.

 

[humuakalaka]

Glass does NOT make you a less proficient pilot. You can punch off the autopilot and autothrottles regardless of whether you are flying glass or steam. Likewise, you can turn the flight director off when flying glass or steam.

In my opinion, glass is far better than steam. The primary advantage of glass is the nav display. The increased level of situational awareness afforded by the nav display is geometric over the typical steam HSI. Additionally, the grouping together of critical flight information on the PFD allows a much better and quicker cross-check than is achieved with steam gauges. The end result is that, with glass, more brain cells are freed to concentrate on flying the airplane and managing the flight and the flight is safer.

There is absolutely no question that glass is better thans steam.

 

[ron burgundy]

As i was climbing through fl 230 out of ATL today and realized that I had not even opened my flight bag yet........ glass.....

 

[MD11Fr8Dog]

As i was climbing through fl 230 out of ATL today and realized that I had not even opened my flight bag yet........ glass.....

Flight Bag!? Ours goes away 9/28!! Definitely glass!

 

[Huggyu2]

When it comes to single-engine aircraft, I subscribe to my bosses theory: the cockpit's biggest dial should be right in the middle and labeled "Oil Pressure".

 

[Quimby]

I like glass steam gauges.............best of both with the ND. You can have the tapes.:smash:

 

[727C47]

I fly a steam gauge equipped 727,no FMS, I hear glass makes the job easier,so,Bring it on ! ah well, probably our next airplane, in the meantime I will enjoy flying the 3 engine Pteyrodactyl, making lots of noise,and trailing copious clouds of black smoke.

 

[30West]

The best of both worlds!
On the DC-10 we have steam driven flight instruments to keep up a proficient scan, but also have the glow in the dark GPS for enhanced Nav and S/A capability.

 

[metrodriver]

30 west, don't forget our autothrottles (designed and installed long before anyone had even heard about glass) and the soon to arrive electronic flightbag.
Steam gauges to do the work, glass to supplement it

 

[Turbojet]

Please put an end to this dumb thread.

Come fly SWA and you can fly both in one day.

 

[Wanderlust]

Glass cockpits are why pilots will never earn $300,000 salaries again. Look! The plane flies itself, lands itself, and I can check stock quotes from the cockpit!

 

[zawillif]

In case you're interested there was an article in AW&ST October 16, 2006 p. 66 that talks about the future of glass. It goes in depth about a new PFD display that "will become the standard format that makes the EADI/HSI combination obsolete."

 

[Diesel-9]

DIALS, I like dials and my brain vs. glass and some geeeks brainbox. Pilot vs engineer. Two different waves. Just like wanting my last flight in the service to be an F-4 instead of an F-16. I want to fly it. And a Flight Attendant told me once, she preferred dials.

 

[bustinmins]

how 'bout the glass cockpit with round dials??
gotta LUV it

I think half-glass is better than no-glass but ALL GLASS is the way to go!

 

[johnsonrod]

I prefer all glass - it's like magic with all of the fancy colors.....

 

[Ralph Cramden]

Since this thread started, I've gone from the CRJ (glass, no autothrust) to the Airbus 320, to the Gulfstream 450 and now back to the A320.

Moose is right! HUD is where it's at. You are looking right where you are aimed at, you've got more trend clues than you can possibly pay attention to, and with the EVS (FLIR) in the Gulfstream it is damn near impossible to hit anything unless you really want to. www.gulfstreamplaneview.com

Now they are going to upgrade the Planeview with synthetic vision, a forward PFD view of database terrain and the flight path vector. Too bad we will never see this in commercial aviation. OTOH, the G bird has the most antiquated basic systems I've flown since the DC-3!

I love the bus, but put the Gulfstream cockpit in it and make the darn throttles move. Once you become one with the HUD, you are spoiled for life!

 

[johnsonrod]

Since this thread started, I've gone from the CRJ (glass, no autothrust) to the Airbus 320, to the Gulfstream 450 and now back to the A320.

Moose is right! HUD is where it's at. You are looking right where you are aimed at, you've got more trend clues than you can possibly pay attention to, and with the EVS (FLIR) in the Gulfstream it is dang near impossible to hit anything unless you really want to. www.gulfstreamplaneview.com

Now they are going to upgrade the Planeview with synthetic vision, a forward PFD view of database terrain and the flight path vector. Too bad we will never see this in commercial aviation. OTOH, the G bird has the most antiquated basic systems I've flown since the DC-3!

I love the bus, but put the Gulfstream cockpit in it and make the darn throttles move. Once you become one with the HUD, you are spoiled for life!

Wow, I am surprised you left a good G450 gig to return to the airlines... Where can I apply for your old job because I would love to fly that airplane (PMs encouraged...)?

That being said, I am too spoiled with the glass. There is no way you are putting me in a 727 (even though it is a venerable and very fast aircraft) where I have to do all of the mental math myself - yeah, that's a sad commentary but one that many people share I am afraid. Plus, the glass is so much better for situational awareness.

 

[727C47]

but the 727 rocks for sheer joy of flight !

 

[Ralph Cramden]

Wow, I am surprised you left a good G450 gig to return to the airlines... Where can I apply for your old job because I would love to fly that airplane (PMs encouraged...)?

Um, I never said it was a good gig. You can apply to FlightSafety International in SAV. Great people, a world class training facility. They start at $70K yearly salary and will type you. Schedule is feast or famine, mostly 7 on 2 off. FAR 142 has no duty rules other than 8 hrs of instruction in 24. Typical day is 9/10 hours including the prep time and paperwork.

Oh, you will never fly for a client on your days off, as you never know your schedule. Don't worry, your schedule will change daily anyway.

So apply away. The type won't do you any good unless you have a corporate background. It was a great time playing in the sim, and you will do a lot of seat sub work when you start, so you will be one of the most proficient non flying pilots around. I really enjoyed watching the smile on guys faces when they did the VOR into ASE in night snow shower conditions. Then we would give them a V1 cut on the way out, high, hot & heavy. That HUD/EVS system was the best thing since sliced bread.

 

[PanPan]

This may have already been said but, they both look the same from behind the USA Today.........

 

[On Your Six]

When I see old Diesel 9s or Diesel 10 cockpits it always reminds me of that scene from Airplane 1 where the guys gets into the cockpit and the camera focuses on the 707 dials and then pans to the right and keeps going on and on and on....

If you are used to glass in an RJ or advanced corporate jet, it would be difficult to lose it and go back to a Diesel 9 (NWA or the freight operators). To go from great situational awareness (nav displays and TCAS superimposed on displays - nice) to zip and a reliance on maps would be like taking candy from a baby................ I am sure the old farts ("real flyers") who flew DC-3s on these boards will disagree.