Operation
Attitude indicators use a gyroscope (powered via vacuum pump or electrical motor) to establish an inertial platform. The gyroscope is geared to a display that has two dimensions of freedom, simultaneously displaying pitch and bank. The display may be colored to indicate the horizon as the division between the two colored segments (typically blue for sky and brown for ground), and is intended to be intuitive to use. The actual bank angle is calibrated around the circumference of the instrument. The pitch angle is indicated by a series of calibration lines, each representing 5° or 10° of pitch depending on design. The Artificial Horizon has turning errors when turning through 090 and 270 degrees, and it has no turning errors when turning through 180 and 000 degrees. For example, when turning through 090 degrees the Artificial Horizon will show nose up and bank angle too low. When turning through 180 degrees it will show nose up and bank angle correct.
Some attitude indicators can only tolerate a specific range of bank angles. If the aircraft rolls too steeply — while performing aerobatics, for example — the attitude indicator can "tumble" (or "topple") and become temporarily unusable. For this reason, some attitude indicators are fitted with a "cage" (a device to restore the gyroscope to an erect position). Most modern attitude indicators slowly re-erect back to level after a tumble. Others do not tumble at all.
Attitude and Heading Reference Systems (AHRS) are able to provide three-axis information that can be shared with multiple devices in the aircraft, such as "glass cockpit" primary flight displays (PFDs). AHRS have been proven to be highly reliable and are in wide use in commercial and business aircraft. Recent advances in MEMS manufacturing have brought the price of FAA-certified AHRS down to less than $15,000, making them practical for general aviation aircraft.
With most AHRS systems, if an aircraft's AIs have failed there will be a standby AI located in the center of the instrument panel, where other standby basic instruments such as the airspeed indicator and the attitude indicator are also available. These mostly mechanical standby instruments may be available even if the electronic flight instruments fail, though the standby attitude indicator is electrically driven and will, after a short time, fail if electrical power to it fails.
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