Attitudeindicator

The attitude indicator, also known as the artificial horizon or attitude director indicator (ADI), is an aircraft flight instrument that tells the pilot the aircraft's attitude relative to the horizon. It displays whether the aircraft is in level flight, climbing, descending, banking left, or banking right. The instrument typically features a representation of the aircraft's nose and wings, and a horizon bar that indicates the actual horizon line. When the aircraft banks, the horizon bar moves in the opposite direction of the bank, and when the aircraft pitches up or down, the horizon bar moves accordingly.

Modern attitude indicators are often part of a larger glass cockpit display system and can incorporate additional information such as flight director cues. The core principle of operation for many older attitude indicators relies on a gyroscopically stabilized gimbal. This gyroscope remains oriented in space regardless of the aircraft's movements, allowing the instrument to accurately depict the aircraft's orientation relative to the Earth's horizon. Backup attitude indicators are usually mechanical and driven by vacuum or electrical power. Understanding the attitude indicator is crucial for pilots to maintain controlled flight, especially in conditions of poor visibility where the natural horizon is not visible.