Private Pilot Private Exam

What is a key step to ensure safety in glass cockpit operations?

1. Trust the machine’s calculations

2. Ignore outside visibility

3. Cross-check information with other sources

4. Focus mainly on the primary flight display

The correct answer is: Cross-check information with other sources

In glass cockpit operations, cross-checking information with other sources is vital for ensuring safety. Glass cockpits utilize advanced technology for flight displays, providing pilots with a wealth of information such as navigation, aircraft performance, and systems status. However, a reliance solely on these displays can lead to issues if there are discrepancies or failures in the system. Cross-checking allows pilots to verify crucial data against other references, such as traditional flight instruments or external information from air traffic control and weather updates. This vigilance helps to maintain situational awareness and catch any potential errors, whether they are due to misinterpretations of the displays or actual malfunctions. Using multiple sources of information fortifies decision-making processes and enhances safety margins, especially in complex flying conditions or under high-stress situations. Trusting the machine's calculations without verification can lead to unrecognized errors; ignoring outside visibility disregards important environmental cues; and focusing mainly on the primary flight display reduces situational awareness, risking reliance on a single source of information. Therefore, cross-checking stands as a fundamental practice to safeguard flight operations.