A320 – Electronic Instrument System (EIS)

In comparison to old technology aircraft, the flight deck on the A320 is designed to be a comfortable and uncluttered environment to work, by using modern electronic display units, the presentation of information given to the pilots has been improved.

The Electronic Instrument System (EIS) presents data on six identical Display Units (DUs). EIS is divided into two parts – EFIS (4 DISPLAY UNITS – 2 PFDs and 2 NDs) and ECAM.

ELECTRONIC FLIGHT INSTRUMENT SYSTEM (EFIS)

EFIS displays mostly flight parameters and navigation data on the Primary Flight Displays (PFDs) and Navigation Displays (NDs).

Primary Flight Display (PFD)

The PFD provides the following flight parameters to the crew:

• Attitude and guidance
• Airspeed
• Altitude (BARO and radio) and vertical speed
• Heading and track
• FMGS modes (Flight Mode Annunciator)
• Vertical and lateral deviations
• Radio navigation information

NAVIGATION DISPLAY

The navigation information is displayed through 5 mode displays:

• ROSE LS (mostly used during ILS approaches)
• ROSE VOR (mostly used during VOR approaches)
• ROSE NAV (provides information about the active flight plan, waypoints etc. in full 180  degree sector)
• ROSE ARC (provides same information as the ROSE NAV mode but in 90 degree sector)
• PLAN mode (displays flight plan with map oriented to north)

The pilot choses which mode to display depending upon the phase of flight .

THE ELECTRONIC CENTRALIZED AIRCRAFT MONITOR (ECAM)

ECAM presents data on the Engine/Warning Display (E/WD) and System Display (SD):

• Primary engine indications, fuel quantity, flap and slat position, bleed air configuration
• Warning and caution alerts, or memos
• Synoptic diagrams of aircraft systems, and status messages
• Permanent flight data

ENGINE WARNING DISPLAY 

SYSTEM DISPLAY