Flight Instruments
Instrument Requirements
These are for all power driven aircraft.
Day VFR
- Altimeter / Sensitive Altimeter.
- Airspeed Indicator.
- Magnetic Compass.
- Tachometer per engine.
- Oil Pressure Indicator per engine.
- Coolant Temperature Indicator per engine.
- Oil Temperature Indicator per engine.
- Manifold Pressure Indicator per engine.
- Fuel gauge for each main tank.
- Landing gear position indicator.
-Ref: CAR 605.14
Day VFR OTT
- All the equipment previously listed.
- Means for preventing icing in each airspeed indicating system.
- Gyroscopic direction indicator.
- Turn coordinator / turn and bank indicator.
-Ref: CAR 605.15
Night VFR
- All the equipment previously listed.
- Means of illumination for all instruments used to operate the a/c.
- Use of Position and Anti-collision Lights (Specific Requirements)
-Ref: CAR 605.16
IFR
- All the equipment previously listed.
- Attitude indicator.
- Vertical speed indicator.
- Outside air temperature gauge.
- Power failure warning device or vacuum indicator that shows the power available to the gyroscopic instruments from each power source.
- Alternate source of static pressure for the altimeter, airspeed indicator, and vertical speed indicator.
-Ref: CAR 605.18
Pitot Static System
Pitot Source
Complete blockage of the pitot source (including drain holes) will turn the ASI into an altimeter. If the pitot system is not completely blocked, it will go to 0. If for example, ice starts to build up restricting dynamic pressure, the airspeed will fall off.
Static Source
A partially clogged static system will cause the altimeter, airspeed and vertical speed indicator to under-read in a climb and then catch up when levelling off. During descent, the ASI and altimeter will over-read and the VSI will indicate less than the true rate of descent. If you suspect a static blockage, switch to the alternate source and if the needles move erratically, there is a blockage.
