Factual Information 2015:Appendix 1.6E/1.6E.11
This page contains an extract from MH370/01/15 Factual Information which accompanied the (first) Interim Statement released by The Malaysian ICAO Annex 13 Safety Investigation Team for MH370 on 8th March 2015.
1.6E.11 Instrumentation
The flight instruments and displays supply information to the flight crew on six flat panel liquid crystal display units:
- Captain and First Officer Primary Flight Display (PFD)
- Captain and First Officer Navigation Display (ND)
- the Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS)
- the Multifunction Display (MFD)
Standby Flight Instruments provide information on separate indicators. Clocks display Airplane Information Management System (AIMS) generated UTC time and date, or manually set time and date.
- a) Primary Flight Display (PFD)
The PFDs present a dynamic color display of all the parameters necessary for flight path control. The PFDs provide the following information:
- flight mode annunciation
- airspeed
- altitude
- vertical speed
- attitude
- steering information
- radio altitude
- instrument landing system display
- approach minimums
- heading/track indications
- engine fail, Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS), and Predictive Windshear (PWS) alerts
Failure flags are displayed for aircraft system failures. Displayed information is removed or replaced by dashes if no valid information is available to the display system (because of out–of–range or malfunctioning navigation aids). Displays are removed when a source fails or when no system source information is available.
- b) Navigation Display (ND)
The NDs provide a mode–selectable color flight progress display. The modes are:
The MAP, VOR, and APP modes can be switched between an expanded mode with a partial compass rose and a centered mode with a full compass rose.
- c) Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS)
EICAS consolidates engine and aircraft system indications and is the primary means of displaying system indications and alerts to the flight crew. The most important indications are displayed on EICAS which is normally displayed on the upper centre display.
System Alert Level Definitions
i) Time Critical Warnings
Time critical warnings alert the crew of a non-normal operational condition requiring immediate crew awareness and corrective action to maintain safe flight. Master warning lights, voice alerts, and ADI indications or stick shakers announce time critical conditions.
ii) Warnings
Warnings alert the crew to a non-normal operational or system condition requiring immediate crew awareness and corrective action.
iii) Cautions
Cautions alert the crew to a non-normal operational or system condition requiring immediate crew awareness. Corrective action may be required.
iv) Advisories
Advisories alert the crew to a non-normal operational or system condition requiring routine crew awareness. Corrective action may be required.
v) EICAS Messages
Systems conditions and configuration information are provided to the crew by four types of EICAS messages:
- EICAS alert messages are the primary method to alert the crew to non-normal conditions
- EICAS communication messages direct the crew to normal communication conditions and messages
- EICAS memo messages are crew reminders of certain flight crew selected normal conditions
- EICAS status messages indicate equipment faults which may affect aircraft dispatch capability
An EICAS alert, communications, or memo message is no longer displayed when the respective condition no longer exists.
- d) Multifunction Display (MFD)
The electronic checklist (ECL) system shows normal and non-normal checklists on a multifunction display (MFD). The electronic checklist system is not required for dispatch, and a paper checklist or other approved backup checklist must be available on the flight deck.
The checklist display switch on the display select panel opens the electronic checklist. The flight crew operates the checklist with the cursor control devices (CCDs).
- e) Standby Flight Instruments
The standby flight instruments include:
- standby attitude indicator
- standby airspeed indicator
- standby altimeter
- standby magnetic compass
i) Standby Attitude Indicator
The Standby Attitude Indicator displays Secondary Attitude Air Data Reference Unit (SAARU) attitude. A bank indicator and pitch scale are provided.
ii) Standby Airspeed Indicator
The Standby Airspeed Indicator displays airspeed calculated from two standby air data modules (one pitot and one static). It provides current airspeed in knots as a digital readout box and with an airspeed pointer.
iii) Standby Altimeter
The standby altimeter displays altitude from the standby (static) air data module. Current altitude is displayed digitally. A pointer indicates altitude in hundreds of feet. The pointer makes one complete revolution at appropriate intervals.
iv) Standby Magnetic Compass
A standard liquid–damped magnetic standby compass is provided. A card located near the compass provides heading correction factors.
- f) Clock
A clock is located on each forward panel. Each clock displays Airplane Information Management System (AIMS) generated UTC time and date, or manually set time and date. The AIMS UTC time comes from the global positioning system (GPS). In addition to time, the clocks also provide alternating day-month and year, elapsed time, and chronograph functions.
Source: Malaysian ICAO Annex 13 Safety Investigation Team for MH370, 8 March 2015, Factual Information MH370/01/15
The Factual Information was updated in 2018 by the Safety Investigation Report MH370/01/2018 which added new content but did not include all of the previous data.