Why do air craft still rely on archaic pitot tubes?

  • Thread starter wolram
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In summary, pitot tubes continue to be used in aircrafts due to their reliability and cost-effectiveness. They have redundant systems and strict maintenance protocols to prevent malfunctions and accidents. They are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions and improvements have been made to prevent accidents like those in the past. While there are efforts to develop more advanced technologies, pitot tubes remain the most widely used and reliable option for now.
  • #1
wolram
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If GPS is or can be so accurate why do air craft still rely on archaic pito tubes? sure keep one as a back up, but for your PRIMARY instrument no way.
 
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  • #2
GPS provides ground speed, not airspeed. If you were in an airliner and had a 100kt tailwind, GPS would think you were going supersonic.
 
  • #3
Yes for stall and flight characteristics the indicated airspeed is the most important. I don't know if for navigation they use INS (Inertial Navigation System) with laser guided Giro's, or GPS for speed calculation.
 

Related to Why do air craft still rely on archaic pitot tubes?

1. Why haven't aircrafts switched to more modern technology instead of using pitot tubes?

Despite advances in technology, pitot tubes continue to be used in aircrafts because they are a reliable and cost-effective method for measuring airspeed. While alternative methods such as GPS or laser-based sensors exist, they are not yet as accurate or cost-efficient as pitot tubes.

2. Aren't pitot tubes prone to malfunctioning and causing accidents?

While pitot tubes can malfunction, they are designed with redundancy systems to prevent accidents. Additionally, airlines have strict maintenance and inspection protocols to ensure the proper functioning of pitot tubes.

3. Can't pitot tubes be affected by extreme weather conditions?

Pitot tubes are designed to withstand a wide range of weather conditions, including extreme temperatures, turbulence, and icing. They are also regularly inspected and cleaned to prevent any potential issues caused by weather.

4. Why are pitot tubes still used even though they were involved in past aviation accidents?

Pitot tubes have been involved in past accidents, but these incidents were due to a combination of factors and not solely the fault of the pitot tubes. Since then, improvements have been made to pitot tube design and maintenance protocols to prevent similar accidents.

5. Are there any plans to replace pitot tubes in the future?

While there are ongoing efforts to develop more advanced airspeed measurement technologies, pitot tubes are still the most widely used and reliable option for aircrafts. As technology continues to improve, it is possible that pitot tubes may eventually be replaced, but for now, they remain a crucial component of aviation systems.

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