When a primary EFIS fails, what cockpit backup options are typically available?

When a primary EFIS fails, what cockpit backup options are typically available?

• A. Standby instruments (attitude, airspeed, altitude) and possibly a reduced-function ECAM/EICAS display.
• B. The primary flight display remains unaffected.
• C. There are no backups.
• D. Only the flight management system remains visible.

Answer: (A)

When the primary EFIS fails, cockpit backups are there to keep you in control and aware of the airplane’s essential state. Standby instruments provide the core flight data you need: attitude, airspeed, and altitude. These are typically powered by a separate standby power source so they stay functional even if the main avionics lose power, giving you a reliable sense of orientation and performance to fly by. In addition, many aircraft offer a reduced-function ECAM/EICAS display that can show critical system information—like engine parameters, fuel, and hydraulics—in a compact format on an alternate screen. This combination ensures you don’t lose access to vital information when the primary EFIS is down. The primary PFD/MFD being unavailable is exactly the situation these backups are designed to handle, and the FMS alone wouldn’t provide the direct, real-time flight instruments needed for safe control.

When the primary EFIS fails, cockpit backups are there to keep you in control and aware of the airplane’s essential state. Standby instruments provide the core flight data you need: attitude, airspeed, and altitude. These are typically powered by a separate standby power source so they stay functional even if the main avionics lose power, giving you a reliable sense of orientation and performance to fly by. In addition, many aircraft offer a reduced-function ECAM/EICAS display that can show critical system information—like engine parameters, fuel, and hydraulics—in a compact format on an alternate screen. This combination ensures you don’t lose access to vital information when the primary EFIS is down. The primary PFD/MFD being unavailable is exactly the situation these backups are designed to handle, and the FMS alone wouldn’t provide the direct, real-time flight instruments needed for safe control.