Pitot-Static

System
B Y - H A R D I K VA L A
A S S I S TA N T P R O F E S S O R
A E R O N A U T I C A L D E PA RT M E N T
S I LV E R O A K U N I V E R S I T Y
 OBJECTIVES
Topic Objectives:

• To have idea on earth atmosphere and its impact on instruments

• To learn what is pitot-static system

• To learn basic working principles of instruments that use pitot-static system

• To understand the limitations of the system

 INTRODUCTION
• Within an aircraft the flight crews need to know airspeed, aircraft altitude, vertical
speed etc. for a safe flight.

• They get these data from corresponding instruments (airspeed indicator, altimeter,
vertical speed indicator) in the cockpit.

• The above mentioned instruments collect data from environment through pitot
probes, static ports etc.

• Thus the atmosphere provides much of the basic information required by a pilot.
Before we study pitot-static system instruments we must first, therefore,
understand the properties of the atmosphere these instruments utilize.
 ATMOSPHERIC PHYSICS
• The earth’s atmosphere is the surrounding envelope of air (mostly Nitrogen, 78.09%
and Oxygen, 20.95% gas).
• The envelope is divided into several layers extending from the earth’s surface.
• The lowest layer is the troposphere, extending to a height of about 28,000ft (11km) at
the equator.
• This is the start of the tropopause, which goes on up to about 66,000 ft (20km).
• Above this is the stratosphere, extending to the stratopause at an average height of
between 60 and 70 miles.
• As all aircraft fly in the troposphere or lower levels of the stratosphere we will not
concern ourselves with other higher layers.
 ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
• The atmosphere is held in contact with the earth's surface by gravity, producing a
pressure within the atmosphere. Gravitational effects decrease with increasing
distance from the earth's center, so that atmospheric pressure decreases steadily
with altitude.
• The standard sea-level pressure is 14.7 lb/𝑖𝑛2 and is equal to 29.92 in Hg or
1013.25 mbar.
• The rate at which the pressure falls with height is termed as ‘the lapse rate’. The
pressure lapse rate is not linear, but exponential.

Standard Pressure Lapse Rate:

• 1 in Hg per 1000ft. of altitude.
 ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE
• The air in contact with the earth is heated by conduction and radiation, and as a
result its density decreases and the air starts rising. As it rises its pressure falls,
allowing the air to expand, the expansion in turn causing a fall in temperature.

• The air temperature decreases by 1.98°C for every 1,000 feet increase in
altitude from +15°C to -56.5°C at 36,089 feet (i.e. up to tropopause)

• In the stratosphere the temperature at first remains constant at -56.5°C, then it

increases again to a maximum at a height of about 40 miles
FIGURE: ICAO STANDARD ATMOSPHERE
 WHAT IS PITOT-STATIC SYSTEM
• A pitot-static system is a system of pressure-sensitive instruments that is used
to determine an aircraft's airspeed, vertical speed, altitude, and Mach number.

• It uses the principle of air pressure gradient i.e. it measures pressures/pressure

differences and uses these values to determine the speed and altitude.
 BASICS OF PITOT-STATIC SYSTEM
• Static pressure, as the name suggests, is the absolute pressure (pressure
referenced to a vacuum) of the air surrounding the aircraft.

• This is easily obtained whilst the aircraft is stationary on the ground, but will be
affected as the aircraft moves through the air, giving rise to errors. Modern
aircrafts sample static pressure through pairs of Static Vents.
 BASICS OF PITOT-STATIC SYSTEM CNTD.
• Pitot Pressure:
• The pitot pressure is a measure of ram air
pressure (the total air pressure created by
aircraft motion)
• To understand this, let us consider a
probe placed in a flowing fluid. When the
fluid flows at a certain velocity, v over
the probe, it will be brought to rest at the
nose known as the stagnation point.
• The stagnation pressure of the fluid, also
known as the total pressure or the pitot
pressure.
 BASICS OF PITOT-STATIC SYSTEM CNTD.
••  At the stagnation point, kinetic energy of the fluid is converted into pressure
energy.
• Kinetic energy=pressure energy
• m𝑣²=𝑃𝑉
(P=dynamic pressure=difference
• ρ𝑣 ² =𝑃 between pitot and static pressure)
• 𝑣α𝑃
• So, by measuring dynamic pressure we can determine the fluid velocity
BASICS OF PITOT-STATIC SYSTEM CNTD

Figure: Measuring airspeed

by using pitot and static
pressures
 COMPONENTS OF PITOT STATIC SYSTEM

Pitot Tube and Line:

• The pitot tube is an L-shaped device located on the exterior of the aircraft that
is used to measure airspeed.

• It has a small opening in the front of the tube where ram air pressure (dynamic
pressure) enters the tube and a drain hole on the back of the tube.

• Some types or pitot tubes have an electronic heating element inside of the tube
that prevents ice from blocking the air inlet or drain hole.
 COMPONENTS OF PITOT STATIC SYSTEM
Static Port(s) and Lines:
• The static port is a small air inlet, usually located on the side of the aircraft, flush
against the fuselage.
• The static port measures static (non-moving) air pressure, which is also known as
ambient pressure or barometric pressure.
• Some aircraft have more than one static port and some aircraft have an alternate static
port in case one or more of the ports becomes blocked.

Instruments:
• The pitot-static system involves three instruments: The airspeed indicator, altimeter, and
vertical speed indicator.
• Static lines connect to all three instruments and ram air pressure from the pitot tube
connects to only the airspeed indicator.
 OPERATION OF PITOT STATIC SYSTEM
• The pitot-static system of instruments uses the principle of air pressure gradient.

• It works by measuring pressures or pressure differences and using these values

to assess the speed and altitude.

• These pressures can be measured either from the static port (static pressure) or
the pitot tube (pitot pressure). The static pressure is used in all measurements

• Pitot pressure is only used to determine airspeed and the pitot pressure is
obtained from the pitot tube.
 OPERATION OF PITOT STATIC SYSTEM
• The pitot pressure is a measure of ram air pressure (the air pressure created by
vehicle motion or the air ramming into the tube), which, under ideal conditions, is
equal to stagnation pressure, also called total pressure.

• The pitot tube is most often located on the wing or front section of an aircraft,
facing forward, where its opening is exposed to the relative wind.

• By situating the pitot tube in such a location, the ram air pressure is more accurately
measured since it will be less distorted by the aircraft's structure.

• When airspeed increases, the ram air pressure is increased, which can be translated
by the airspeed indicator.
PITOT HEAD
 TYPICAL PITOT PROBES, STATIC PORTS
AND THEIR LOCATIONS
• A pitot probe consists of a
pipe facing into the
airflow, with electrical
heating to prevent icing
and a water drain at its
lowest point.
• The static vents are cross
connected, by pipework,
in pairs to balance out any
pressure difference caused
by sideslip of the aircraft.
 ERRORS IN PITOT STATIC INSTRUMENTS
• The most common problem with the pitot-static system is a blockage of the
pitot tube or the static ports, or both.

• If the pitot tube becomes blocked, and its drain hole remains clear, the airspeed
will read zero.

• If the pitot tube and its drain hole are blocked, the airspeed indicator will act
like an altimeter, reading higher airspeeds with an increase in altitude. This
situation can be dangerous if not recognized immediately.
 ERRORS IN PITOT STATIC INSTRUMENTS
• If the static port(s) become blocked and the pitot tube remains operable, the
airspeed indicator will barely work and indications will be inaccurate.

• The altimeter will freeze in a place where the blockage occurred and the VSI
will indicate zero.

• Another problem with the pitot-static system includes metal fatigue, which can
deteriorate the elasticity of the diaphragms.

• Additionally, turbulence or abrupt maneuvers can cause erroneous static

pressure measurements
 BLOCKED STATIC PORT
• ASI continues to operate, but incorrectly

• Behaves somewhat as an altimeter

• VSI reads zero

• Altimeter frozen at altitude where blockage occurred

• Try alternate static source