Definition
Flight decks in which traditional mechanical instruments (such as separate dials for airspeed, altitude, attitude, heading, and engine indications) are replaced or consolidated onto electronic displays — typically large color screens that present flight, navigation, engine, and systems information digitally.
Plain English
A cockpit where most of the old round dials and gauges have been replaced by computer screens that show the same information electronically.
Context Anchor
Seen in modern instrument flying discussions, especially when comparing older instrument panels with newer screen-based panels.
Derivation
Called 'glass' because the displays are flat glass screens, in contrast to the older 'steam gauge' cockpits that used many individual mechanical instruments behind round glass faces.
Why Pilots Care
Glass cockpits improve situational awareness and reduce instrument scan workload once mastered, but pilots must learn new failure modes and display interpretations.
Intuition Check
Do not read “glass cockpit” as a cockpit made of glass. It means a cockpit where screens replace many of the older separate gauges.
Example Sentence 1
After training on a traditional six-pack, the student transitioned to a glass cockpit and had to learn how to read the primary flight display.
Example Sentence 2
Many older pilots are transitioning from round-dial panels to glass cockpits during instrument refresher training.