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Written test attitude indicator

Asked by: 4989 views ,
General Aviation, Instrument Rating, Private Pilot

Hi there

I have a question about some attitude indicator

In the writen test for PPL i found a figure of attitude indicator which i found a strange or confusing

in normal  AI if I am turning to the right the bank degree would show a turn to the right

but in the figure that i found in the written test is totally the opposite

this link shows the figure

http://flight-school.appspot.com/media/img/figures/7.jpg

the miniture airplane showing a bank to the right but the bank degree on the left

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1 Answers



  1. Alex Weeks on Jan 29, 2015

    Unfortunately, there is no standard for attitude indicator design. All attitude indicators have a fixed portion and a moving portion, but which parts are fixed and which move is up to the manufacturer.

    The picture of the attitude indicator you provided shows an attitude indicator with a “sky pointer.” That is, a pointer that is slaved to the horizon and always points at the sky.

    The attitude indicator that’s more common in training aircraft uses a “roll pointer.” A pointer that points at the top of the airplane and is slaved to the airframe. This is the one most of us see first.

    There are also attitude indicators with the pointer pointing down and some attitude indicators that have no pointer at all.

    You are not the first person to be confused. The first time I flew an airplane with a sky pointer in the clouds I just about rolled us inverted before I figured it out.

    Here’s a research paper that compares the different types http://sidneydekker.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Horizon.pdf

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