PITOT STATIC SYSTEM

A pitot-static system is a system of pressure-sensitive instruments that is most often used in

aviation to determine an aircraft's airspeed, Mach number, altitude, and altitude trend. A
pitot-static system generally consists of a pitot tube, a static port, and the pitot-static
instruments.

PRESSURE HEAD
Consist of static slots, pitot tube, drain hole and heating element.

STATIC PORT
The static port is a small air inlet, usually located on the side of the aircraft, flush against the
fuselage. The static port measures static (non-moving) air pressure, which is also known as
ambient pressure or barometric pressure. Some aircraft have more than one static port, and
some aircraft have an alternate static port in case one or more of the ports becomes blocked.
Drain Trap
Allow draining of water accumulated in the piping using spring loaded action.

Pipeline
Pitot and static pressures are transmitted through seamless corrosion-resistant metal (light
alloy/or tungum) pipeline.

Pitot-Static Instruments

– Airspeed Indicator (ASI)

– Altimeter
– Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI)
– Machmeter

Airspeed Indicator (ASI)

The airspeed indicator (ASI) or airspeed gauge is a flight instrument indicating the
airspeed of an aircraft in miles per hour (MPH), knots, or both. The ASI measures the
pressure differential between static pressure from the static port, and total pressure from the
pitot tube.
The airspeed indicator is a sealed case with an aneroid diaphragm inside of it. The case
surrounding the diaphragm is made up of static pressure, and the diaphragm is supplied with
both static and dynamic pressure to it. When airspeed increases, the dynamic pressure inside
of the diaphragm increases as well, causing the diaphragm to expand. Through mechanical
linkage and gears, the airspeed is depicted by a needle pointer on the face of the instrument.
ALTIMETER
An altimeter or an altitude meter is an instrument used to measure the altitude of an object
above a fixed level. The measurement of altitude is called altimetry, which is related to the
term bathymetry, the measurement of depth under water.
The altimeter acts as a barometer and is also supplied with static pressure from the static
ports. Inside the sealed instrument case is a stack of sealed aneroid diaphragms, also known
as wafers. These wafers are sealed with an internal pressure calibrated to 29.92" Hg, or
standard atmospheric pressure. They expand and contract as the pressure rises and falls in the
surrounding instrument case. A Kollsman window inside of the cockpit allows the pilot to
calibrate the instrument to the local altimeter setting to account for non-standard atmospheric
pressure.

Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI)

Vertical Speed Indicator is one of the flight instruments in an aircraft used to inform the pilot
of the rate of descent or climb. In powered flight the pilot makes frequent use of the VSI to
ascertain that level flight is being maintained, especially during turning maneuvers. In
gliding, the instrument is used almost continuously during normal flight, often with an
audible output, to inform the pilot of rising or sinking air. It is usual for gliders to be
equipped with more than one type of variometer. The simpler type does not need an external
source of power and can therefore be relied upon to function regardless of whether a battery
or power source has been fitted. The electronic type with audio needs a power source to be
operative during the flight.

Machmeter
A machmeter is an instrument which provides an indication of the Mach Number, (M), which
is the ratio between the aircraft true air speed (TAS) and the local speed of sound (LSS). This
ratio, which equals one when the TAS is equal to the local speed of sound, is very important
in aircraft operating at high speed.
ALTITUDE MEASUREMENT

ALTITUDE
 The vertical distance of an aircraft measured from mean sea level
PRESSURE ALTITUDE
 When altimeter is set to Standard Mean Sea Level (ICAO) on the barometric window.
INDICATED ALTITUDE
 Direct reading of altitude from altimeter when barometric window setting is not set to
standard MSL (ICAO).
ABSOLUTE ALTITUDE
 It is measured by radio, radar, or laser altimeter.
DENSITY ALTITUDE
 It is the pressure altitude corrected for non-standard temperature.
HEIGHT
 Vertical distance of an aircraft from a reference plane (datum).
DATUM
 A reference line, from which calculations or measurements are taken.
Air Data Computer (ADC)
An air data computer (ADC) is an essential avionics component found in modern aircraft.
This computer, rather than individual instruments, can determine the calibrated airspeed,
Mach number, altitude, and altitude trend data from an aircraft's pitot-static system. In some
very high-speed aircraft such as the Space Shuttle, equivalent airspeed is calculated instead of
calibrated airspeed.
ADC has three inputs:
Pitot pressure from the pitot probes. Static pressure from the static ports. Total air
temperature from the TAT probe
ADC outputs are:
 Altitude
 Indicated Airspeed
 True airspeed
 Machmeter
 Vertical speed
 Static air temperature
 Total air temperature