Definition
An electronic flight instrument system that presents flight, navigation, and engine information on one or more large multifunction screens, replacing the traditional array of separate mechanical (analog) gauges in the cockpit panel.
Plain English
Instead of a dashboard full of round dials, the cockpit shows your flight information on big computer screens.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft with electronic flight instruments, including during instrument maneuvers such as steep turns, where the pilot scans the screen to control bank, pitch, altitude, and airspeed.
Derivation
Called 'glass' because the displays are flat screens behind glass, in contrast to the older panels filled with individual mechanical instruments. The phrase 'glass cockpit' came into use in the 1970s as airliners began adopting CRT screens in place of dials.
Why Pilots Care
Reduces scanning workload and improves situational awareness during maneuvers such as steep turns by presenting related data together.
Analogy
It is like replacing several separate wall clocks and gauges with one clear dashboard screen that shows all the important information together.
Intuition Check
“Glass” does not mean the panel is important because it is made of glass. Here, “glass panel display” means an electronic cockpit screen that presents flight information.
Example Sentence 1
During steep turns in a glass panel display aircraft, the pilot referenced the attitude indicator on the primary flight display rather than scanning separate gauges.
Example Sentence 2
A pilot using a glass panel display can keep altitude and airspeed in view without shifting attention between multiple gauges.