cockpit

A cockpit is the area of a vehicle from which it is controlled. In aviation, it is the flight deck—the compartment occupied by the pilots or crew responsible for flying the aircraft.

A cockpit typically includes flight controls such as a control column or side-stick, rudder pedals, and thrust levers; an instrument panel with primary flight instruments; navigation, communication, and surveillance equipment; displays and avionics; a flight management system and autopilot; and life support and environmental controls. Smaller aircraft may use analog gauges, while modern airliners and many business aircraft employ a glass cockpit with digital displays and integrated systems. The arrangement is designed for visibility, ergonomics, and redundancy, with controls grouped by function and procedures such as checklists and standard operating practices.

Cockpits vary in seating: commercial airliners typically have two pilots seated side by side; some long-haul aircraft add a third crew member for rest periods. Fighter jets and trainer aircraft commonly use tandem seating. Enclosed, pressurized cockpits became standard in the mid-20th century, replacing earlier open designs.

The term cockpit originates from nautical usage and has been adopted in aviation to denote the pilot’s control space. It is also used to refer to the operator’s cabin in ships and in some land or space vehicles.