Definition
Electronic flight instrument displays that present aircraft attitude, navigation, engine, and systems information on one or more large LCD screens, replacing the traditional array of individual mechanical gauges.
Plain English
Instead of many separate round dials in the cockpit, the flight information appears on big computer screens.
Context Anchor
Seen in modern training aircraft and in discussions of instructor qualifications for teaching with advanced cockpit equipment.
Derivation
Called 'glass' because the cockpit panel is dominated by glass screens rather than the round mechanical 'steam gauge' instruments that came before.
Why Pilots Care
They reduce workload by integrating information and improve situational awareness during flight.
Intuition Check
“Glass” does not mean the panel is important because it is made of glass. Here it means an electronic screen-based instrument panel.
Example Sentence 1
Before checking out students in the new training aircraft, the instructor completed a course on its glass panel displays.
Example Sentence 2
Instructors often introduce glass panel displays early so pilots develop a consistent instrument scan from the start of training.