Primary Flight Display: A Step Beyond EADI's

Recent advances in commercial flight deck technology have changed flight displays from electromechanical instruments to computer driven, high brightness, multicolor cathode ray tubes (CRT's). The electronic attitude director indicator (EADl) has evolved into a primary flight display (PFD) which integrates attitude, flight director, air data, and flight mode annunciation into one display. The advantages and disadvantages of the PFD concept are discussed. The development of the PFD is discussed and the progress at Douglas Aircraft Company is presented to illustrate some of the problems and issues associated with PFD development. Future requirements for the PFD are discussed including compatibility with the head-up display, a microwave landing system flight director, time critical alerts, and flight guidance information. The conclusion is drawn that through an evolutionary design process the PFD equipped commercial transports have the potential to provide an improved man-machine interface.