Screen protectors on PFD/ND

[BoeingDriver99]

Hi all,

Some of the PFD/ND/SD LCDs where I work are quite scratched. And some are very fresh and pristine. I’ve seen people “cleaning” them with specific screen wipes, alcohol wipes for hands, tissues, dry paper towels and….. using credit cards to scrape the dust off….. I’ve also seen poke a greasy digit at whatever they felt needed attention leaving a big fingerprint over the data…

Question is: how come we don’t have screen protectors on these screens? And how much does a screen cost to replace?!?!

Thanks

[Check Airman]

1. Gorilla glass is probably more expensive
2. Airbus / Boeing probably didn't think it necessary to think the displays would be treated as touchscreens!! (That's a pet peeve of mine)

[Fursty Ferret]

Using a pen as a pointing stick and jabbing the screen is my pet hate. There are inky scratches on nearly all our 787 screens.

[BoeingDriver99]

What is gorilla glass?

I recall when EFBs were introduced the company newsletter reported one being broken by a pilot poking the touchscreen so hard with a pen that it pierced/cracked/holed the screen. But I reckon that was on purpose.

I’ve seen ink, grease, food, yoghurt etc on the screens.

Would temperatures be an issue? Would the glass get hotter with an insulating layer of thin plastic on it?

[Check Airman]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorilla_Glass

You can find it on current generation smartphones.

[vickers vanguard]

Most cockpit LCD displays, in particular the latest AFD from Rockwell Collins like the one on the 787 or any Proline fusion avionics ( and it’s probably the case for other make), are NEVER to be cleaned with alcohol wipes. The display has an anti-glare coating on the surface, that requires specialized wipes that doesn’t remove or damage that coating. The second you touch those things with alcohol, let alone something else, you’ve just started the removal process of that coating and it’s a vicious cycle after that. The more you clean, the more reflection you get ....etc etc.
Your outfit should supply those wipes ( you get the choice of wipes kit , or a spray bottle with a lint free cloth) in the cockpit for crew to use....this is the best case scenario. Maintenance typically don’t have them too.

[spannersatcx]

Each EDTO transit at main base screens, A350, are cleaned with approved wipes.

[BoeingDriver99]

Yeah I used to work for an airline that supplied the correct wipes in a box in the briefing room. Then nothing in the next airline and I saw pilots “clean” the displays by taking their IDs out and attempting to scrape the dust/dirt/grease off. Unbelievable.

[FlightDetent]

I heard the same about a protective metal vapour coat on the narrowbody Airbus ones. Indeed about six months after delivery interference patterns of uneven shapes and lines start to show up, suggesting abuse on that layer and it giving up.

[EXDAC]

Screen protection films may/will change the ant-reflective properties of the screen. Keep fingers off screen glass unless it's designed to be a touch screen. Trouble is that almost everyone now has at least one touch screen device so they want to stick their greasy fingers on all screens.

I spent years working in advanced flight deck development labs. My observation was that there are two types of people in this world - those that clean screen glass and those that finger screen glass. They are seldom the same people.

[FalseGS]

Any leads on where these wipes can be purchased would be greatly appreciated.
I’ve encountered many instances when the sun shines perfectly on the screen and the glare actually obscures the data, often at critical moments.
I try not to provoke Murphy when I’m flying.

[Uplinker]

Not sure how true this was, but at a previous airline we were told that the (CRT) screens were kept dim to prolong their life - I think the max brightness/contrast is adjustable via the software.

Fantastic, Problem was that made them hard to see, hence people would try to clean them aggressively to see the actual graphics !

"Gorilla glass" is a Dow Corning invention, I think. it is now used on cellphones etc. It is harder than normal glass, so it resists scratches. However, the hardening process makes it brittle, so it can more easily crack if knocked.

[BoeingDriver99]

EXDAC - made me laugh!

[BoeingDriver99]

So after a brief search I found the makers of the wipes I used before - they are called the ALG/CR215 Visial Antistatic wipe. Made by Alglas.

I'd post a link but not sure if it's allowed. You can buy a carton of 1,000 from various suppliers...!

I'll buy a carton and if anyone wants a bunch PM me.

[C2H5OH]

I cannot recommend myself thoroughly.

As fallout of that Sars-CoV2 thing Honeywell has conducted a study on various antiviral cleaning solutions. Can't post links so google for "SIL D202004000758".

Some of these come handy as a cleaning agent as well.
Amazingly they found out that 90% Isopropyl Alcohol is perfectly safe to use ... which is what optical technicians have been using for decades. Preferably on Kimtech Wipes.

I know aviation likes to reinvent the wheel. But doing what has been done in professional optics and camera techincs is no fault:
Clean only if necessary, as most wear ist mechanical
But definetly clean if necessary, as dirt and dust captured by organic residues will act abrasive.
Blow of first or use a brush made of badger hair.
Use soft and lint-free cloth (Kimtech wipes) and Isopropyl Alcohol as cleaning agent.

Btw.: According to the safety data sheet ALG/CR215 contains Isopropyl Alcohol and Dipropylenglycol Methyl Ether.

[Alpine Flyer]

Check Airman

These also have digitizers that aren’t jittery as hell and some more technical wizardry that takes ages to read flight decks.

[B2N2]

PFD/ND screen protectors