Instruments, Indications and Warning Systems
Pitot/static and gyroscopic instruments
Pitot/static instruments are the airspeed indicator, altimeter and vertical speed indicator. Know the errors: position error, instrument error, and the behaviour with blocked pitot or static. Gyroscopic instruments use rigidity (attitude and heading indicators) and precession (turn indicator and turn coordinator); vacuum or electrically driven, with the turn coordinator showing rate of turn and roll.
Engine and system indications
Turbine indications include N1, N2, EGT/ITT, fuel flow, oil pressure and temperature, and vibration; piston engines use rpm, manifold pressure, oil pressure/temperature, CHT/EGT and fuel flow. Know normal ranges and what a trend means.
Warning systems
Master caution and master warning, aural alerts (GPWS, TCAS, stall warning), and annunciators. Traps: assuming a master warning always means an emergency (it may be a caution-level event); confusing a stall warning with an overspeed warning; and forgetting that a heading indicator must be aligned with the magnetic compass.
Worked example: the altimeter reads high and the airspeed reads high in level flight. Reasoning: a blocked static port with pitot open causes the altimeter to read incorrectly and the airspeed to be affected; cross-check with GPS altitude and pitch attitude. The rule: when pitot/static indications disagree, trust attitude, power and GPS, and fly the aircraft first.