Definition
An aircraft cockpit in which traditional mechanical instruments have been replaced by electronic flight displays, typically large multi-function screens that present flight, navigation, engine, and system information in integrated digital form.
Plain English
A cockpit where the old round dials and gauges have been replaced by computer screens that show all the same information digitally.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft cockpit descriptions, avionics maintenance, pilot operating handbooks, and discussions of modern instrument panels.
Derivation
Called 'glass' because the dominant visual feature of the cockpit is the glass face of the display screens, in contrast to the older 'steam gauge' panels filled with individual mechanical instruments.
Why Pilots Care
Integrates data on fewer displays, reduces workload, and improves situational awareness in normal and emergency operations.
Intuition Check
“Glass” does not mean the cockpit is made of glass. Here, it means the main flight information is presented on electronic screens.
Example Sentence 1
The new training aircraft has a glass flight deck, so students learn to read flight data from electronic displays rather than individual dial instruments.
Example Sentence 2
Transition training covered the differences between round-dial cockpits and the glass flight deck layout.