Useful in an emergency?
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: hong kong
Useful in an emergency?
I just downloaded an Attitude Indicator app for my Samsung phone. As far as I can tell, it gives reliable pitch and roll indications and would be of more use than the turn and slip with a failed vacuum pump in poor vis. You just need to mount it correctly in the vertical and horizontal plane. Comments?
Last edited by subsonicsubic; 31st August 2012 at 06:04.
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,486
Likes: 8
From: The No Transgression Zone
If you're talking about IFR then learning to fly everything except takeoff on the partial panel is in the long run far more useful...
VFR?...WTF?...
Want something truly useful in an emergency?...Never run out of airspeed, altitude and ideas all at the same time...
VFR?...WTF?...
Want something truly useful in an emergency?...Never run out of airspeed, altitude and ideas all at the same time...
Last edited by Pugilistic Animus; 31st August 2012 at 06:59.
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,042
Likes: 0
From: Oxford
I've not tried it but reports of similar iPhone apps suggest the iPhone accelerometers & gyros struggle with the vibration in a typical cockpit.
I did wonder though about trying (in VMC, of course!) an NDB approach using just Air Navigation Free. It can't be worse than an RBI...
Tim
I did wonder though about trying (in VMC, of course!) an NDB approach using just Air Navigation Free. It can't be worse than an RBI...
Tim
Fleet Manager
Joined: Aug 2006
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 7,089
Likes: 2,952
From: Ontario, Canada
Okay, I accept that there is a whole new breed of gadgets out there, which computer wizards have adapted to appear to provide useful information in an aviation environment.
However, IF pilots expect to fly in a "safe", compliant environment in certified aircraft, they need to resist the temptation of un approved gadgets in primary information roles.
If you have got yourself into a situation where both operationally, and aircraft condition/operationally you need to rely on such a gadget, you were already in way over your head, and should be reverting to your training (which very certainly DID NOT include the use of such gadgets) to get yourself out.
If you are a VFR only pilot who has blundered into IMC, and thereafter had a system failure which leads you to need such a gadget, you were a fool, and the gadget is not going to be of any help, as you are already overwhelmed. and you're going to loose control anyway for lack of training.
Fly the aircraft within its and your limitations. The aircraft limitations will be based upon how it is equipped and approved.
I flew a turbine helicopter 1900 miles north to south in western Canada in October - with no attitude indicator. I just maintained visual contact with the ground and a useable horizon. I did not refer to the additional Garmin GPS functions which mimicked "instruments". Allowing one's self to be lured further into poor visibility because you have a non aircraft approved gadget in your pocket is very foolish.
However, IF pilots expect to fly in a "safe", compliant environment in certified aircraft, they need to resist the temptation of un approved gadgets in primary information roles.
If you have got yourself into a situation where both operationally, and aircraft condition/operationally you need to rely on such a gadget, you were already in way over your head, and should be reverting to your training (which very certainly DID NOT include the use of such gadgets) to get yourself out.
If you are a VFR only pilot who has blundered into IMC, and thereafter had a system failure which leads you to need such a gadget, you were a fool, and the gadget is not going to be of any help, as you are already overwhelmed. and you're going to loose control anyway for lack of training.
Fly the aircraft within its and your limitations. The aircraft limitations will be based upon how it is equipped and approved.
I flew a turbine helicopter 1900 miles north to south in western Canada in October - with no attitude indicator. I just maintained visual contact with the ground and a useable horizon. I did not refer to the additional Garmin GPS functions which mimicked "instruments". Allowing one's self to be lured further into poor visibility because you have a non aircraft approved gadget in your pocket is very foolish.
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
I would agree with Dar on this one. These gimicks are too much of a distraction, don't provide the correct information when you need it, & are nothing more than something to impress your girlfriend with in the bar. I have a compass on my phone, it doesn't work worth a damn.
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,042
Likes: 0
From: Oxford
Newer iOS devices (iPhone 4 and up, if I remember correctly, and iPad 2+) do have gyros not just accelerometers. As such they should be immune from the problem of being fooled by a coordinated turn.
Tim
Tim
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,460
Likes: 0
An accelerometer is a gyro.
The Iphone does have accelerometers but like all solid state accelerometers they are fairly crap in long term stability.
Having to reset the device when one thinks one is flying straight and level is close to useless.
The Iphone does have accelerometers but like all solid state accelerometers they are fairly crap in long term stability.
Having to reset the device when one thinks one is flying straight and level is close to useless.
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,290
Likes: 289
From: Poplar Grove, IL, USA
An accelerometer is a gyro.
-- IFMU
Joined: Jun 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 7,177
Likes: 297
From: Nanaimo (CAC8)
An accelerometer is a gyro.
The iPhone has always had three accelerometers. Starting with the iPhone 4, a MEMS (microelectromechanical system) gyro was introduced.
For more information and some fascinating electron microscope images, see here:
iPhone 4 Gyroscope Teardown - iFixit
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
From: hong kong
JHC
PA _ I was asking a simple question. Yes you are indeed correct and we should learn partial panel etc, et al, et blah blah. My question was, would having an app like this help the average Joe caught in a sticky situation....
At some point, even a flying goddess like yourself had to embrace new tech like the map, radio, radio nav and maybe even GPS.
You obviously have no need for any "mod cons" and we are all w34565s for embracing new tech.
In the meantime, if I do get caught out with a tech / weather issue, I'll use whatever tech is there to get me home safe. Unless you give me your 24hr mobile ....
PA _ I was asking a simple question. Yes you are indeed correct and we should learn partial panel etc, et al, et blah blah. My question was, would having an app like this help the average Joe caught in a sticky situation....
At some point, even a flying goddess like yourself had to embrace new tech like the map, radio, radio nav and maybe even GPS.
You obviously have no need for any "mod cons" and we are all w34565s for embracing new tech.
In the meantime, if I do get caught out with a tech / weather issue, I'll use whatever tech is there to get me home safe. Unless you give me your 24hr mobile ....