Choosing an aviation display screen involves considering several key factors that ensure safety, functionality, and reliability in a demanding aviation environment. Aviation displays are typically used in cockpit instrumentation, avionics, and entertainment systems, and they must meet specific standards to function optimally under varying conditions.
1. Display Type and Technology
- LCD (Liquid Crystal Display): Popular in aviation due to its clarity, wide viewing angles, and relatively low power consumption. Most modern avionics use LCD screens.
- OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diodes): Known for better contrast, brighter colors, and thinner designs, though more expensive and not as commonly used in cockpit displays.
- TFT-LCD (Thin Film Transistor): A type of LCD that offers better color reproduction and faster refresh rates, which can be important for real-time navigation data.
- LED-backlit LCD: Commonly used for low-power displays, especially in aircraft where energy efficiency is a priority.
2. Size and Resolution
- Size: The size of the display should balance visibility with space constraints in the cockpit. Displays typically range from 5 inches to 15+ inches, with larger screens often used for multi-function displays (MFD) or primary flight displays (PFD).
- Resolution: Aviation displays need high resolution to ensure that critical data is clear and legible. A higher resolution (e.g., 1920x1080, 1280x800, or 1024x768) will provide better clarity, especially for complex charts, maps, or radar images.
3. Brightness and Contrast
- Brightness: Look for displays with high brightness levels (typically over 500 nits) to ensure visibility in various lighting conditions, especially in direct sunlight. Some aviation displays have adaptive brightness, adjusting automatically based on external light.
- Contrast Ratio: A higher contrast ratio (e.g., 1000:1 or better) improves visibility, especially in low-light conditions, making it easier to read data in dim or night-time settings.
4. Durability and Ruggedness
- Vibration Resistance: Aviation environments are subject to significant vibrations, so it’s important to choose a display that can withstand this. Military-grade or aerospace-grade displays are often designed to endure vibrations and shocks.
- Temperature Range: Cockpit temperatures can fluctuate significantly. A display should function reliably in a wide temperature range (typically from -20°C to +70°C).
- Water and Dust Resistance: Depending on the aircraft environment (e.g., commercial vs. military), displays might need to be rated for dust or moisture resistance (IP65, IP67).
5. Anti-Glare and Anti-Reflective Coating
- Anti-Glare/Anti-Reflective Coatings: These coatings help reduce reflections and glare, ensuring better readability in bright environments like the cockpit under direct sunlight. This is crucial for pilots to avoid distractions or difficulty reading critical information.
6. Touchscreen vs. Non-Touchscreen
- Touchscreen Displays: Many modern aviation displays are touch-enabled, allowing pilots to interact directly with the system. However, this can also be a challenge in turbulent conditions, so touchscreens might be avoided in certain avionics systems where physical buttons or knobs are preferred.
- Non-Touchscreen: In more traditional setups, physical controls are used alongside the display. This can be preferred for certain applications like primary flight displays (PFD), where quick, tactile control is important.
7. Input and Connectivity Options
- Multiple Inputs: Ensure the display supports various input signals (HDMI, DVI, VGA, DisplayPort, etc.) to interface with avionics systems, cameras, or other devices.
- Integration with Avionics Systems: The display should be compatible with existing avionics equipment, including GPS, radar, flight data monitoring systems, and other cockpit instruments.
- Touchscreen/Control Panel Integration: Depending on the system’s design, the display may need to integrate with touchscreen panels or control knobs.
8. Certifications and Standards
- FAA Certification (or Equivalent): For commercial aviation, displays must be certified by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) or the equivalent regulatory body in other countries (e.g., EASA in Europe). Certification ensures the display meets safety, reliability, and environmental standards.
- DO-160: A standard that applies to environmental testing for avionics equipment, including temperature, humidity, vibration, electromagnetic interference (EMI), etc. Displays used in aviation should comply with this standard.
9. Viewing Angle
- Wide Viewing Angles: Pilots need to be able to view the display from various angles without distortion. A wider viewing angle (e.g., 170 degrees horizontally and vertically) ensures readability from any position in the cockpit.
10. Power Consumption
- In aircraft, especially smaller ones or private jets, power efficiency is crucial. Aviation displays should consume minimal power to prevent draining the aircraft’s battery and electrical system.
- Look for low-power displays, especially if they are designed for non-essential systems like in-flight entertainment or auxiliary instruments.
11. Cost
- Aviation displays can be significantly more expensive than consumer-grade displays due to their durability, certifications, and features. However, selecting a high-quality, certified display can save on long-term costs related to replacements and safety concerns.
12. Software and Interface Compatibility
- Ensure that the display integrates well with the software systems in use, such as navigation software, flight data monitoring, and mapping software.
- Some aviation displays come with pre-installed software for route planning, weather maps, terrain monitoring, or aircraft performance data.
13. Special Features
- Night Mode: Many aviation displays have night mode or a dimming feature to reduce the brightness during night flights, preventing eye strain.
- Data Overlay: Some displays allow the overlay of data like speed, altitude, and direction, providing pilots with real-time information that can be crucial for flight safety.
- Synthetic Vision: Advanced avionics systems can feature synthetic vision technology (SVT) to display a 3D view of the terrain around the aircraft, helping pilots navigate in poor visibility conditions.
Conclusion:
The right aviation display screen will depend on the specific requirements of the aircraft and the mission. Commercial and military aircraft typically have different needs in terms of size, ruggedness, and certifications. It’s critical to balance performance, reliability, and cost, keeping in mind the environment the display will be used in (e.g., cockpit, external systems, or maintenance) and ensuring that the display adheres to aviation standards.
