The Most Dangerous System? | Pitot-Static System Explained

If you have a pitot-static system failure in flight, you need to identify the issue quickly - but they're notoriously difficult to spot. So in this video, we'll explain everything you need to know about pitot-static system failures.
/ pilotinstituteairplanes
Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
00:30 - What is the pitot-static system?
01:07 - The Airspeed Indicator (ASI)
01:58 - The Altimeter
02:39 - Vertical Speed Indicator (VSI)
03:17 - Pitot Static System Failures
03:31 - Scenario 1
03:51 - Scenario 2
04:34 - What can cause these blockages?
05:07 - Scenario 3
06:01 - How can you avoid these failures?
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[@gordonperry6086]

WOOHOO! What a freaking great explanation! HIGH FIVE Greg!

[@nakivad]

Yet again, thanks for explaining things so well, Greg.

[@devildogkilo]

Definitely a great video

[@SD_AV]

Thanks Greg, these new videos of yours are spectacular!

Damn, this is the best aviation content I've seen on KZbin!

[@nathanwildthorn6919]

Excellent video! I do have a pitot-static question: Several years ago, I was flying with a friend in his C310R FIKI-equipped from Gibbs-Montgomery Field in San Diego, CA to Lakefront airport in New Orleans for Mardi Gras. We encountered rime at around 13000' over New Mexico, and the ASI, VSI, and ALT began to malfunction, then freeze, except the ASI . Larry--the PIC-- immediately opened the Alt air vents while I poured over the charts to find a nearby airport we could divert to. It wasn't until we could safely descend below 7000' with the help of Larry's Garmin watch, that first the ASI stabilized, then the ALT and VSI began functioning normally a moment later. My question is, why, if the alt air vents were opened, did the affected instruments not begin to function immediately, or at least soon after the new static air source was introduced?

[@PilotInstituteAirplanes]

Good question, Your VSI and altimeter should have started to show something for sure. It's possible there was an issue with the alternate static system.