Comprehensive Testing of Aircraft Pitot-Static Systems: Pressure-Based Indicators, Fault Impacts, and Leak Detection Methods

Fatih Alpaslan Kazan; Ahmet Emin Aktemur

doi:10.30518/jav.1824254

Comprehensive Testing of Aircraft Pitot-Static Systems: Pressure-Based Indicators, Fault Impacts, and Leak Detection Methods

Abstract

This study comprehensively covers the structure, operation, and field testing processes of the pitot-static system, which directly affects flight safety in aircraft. The types of dynamic, static, and back pressures that the pitot-static system perceives during flight are defined in detail, and the effects of these pressures on the indicators are explained schematically. Deviations in the airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed indicators that may be caused by failures in any of the system components are analysed for each indicator. In the literature review, current studies on pitot-static systems were summarized and it was determined that these studies mostly focused on system design, modelling, and fault simulations, but field applications were not given enough space. Based on this deficiency, traditional and modern leakage test methods are compared in detail, the test device used is introduced, and the practical leakage test on a Sikorsky S-70 type helicopter is explained step by step. The presented sample test process aims to provide an educational and guiding resource for technical personnel, engineering teams and educational institutions involved in pitot-static system maintenance.

Keywords

References

Abdelrahman, A. A., Suliman, S. E., Awad, A. A., Alla, Y. E. T., & Mohammed, A. A. (2015). Development of a computer based aircraft pitot-static instruments test system. 2015 International Conference on Computing, Control, Networking, Electronics and Embedded Systems Engineering (ICCNEEE), Khartoum, Sudan.
Anonymous. (2025). Aircraft pressure measuring instruments. Retrieved May 5 from https://www.aircraftsystemstech.com/2017/06/pressure-measuring-instruments.html#google_vignette
Arslan, C., Kazan, F. A., & Arslan, M. (2025). Design and realization of an electronic pitot cover that will not be forgotten before the take-off. International Journal of Aviation Science and Technology, 6(1), 24-35.
Cho, A., Kang, Y.-s., Park, B.-j., Yoo, C.-s., & Koo, S.-O. (2012). Air data system calibration using GPS velocity information. 2012 12th International Conference on Control, Automation and Systems, Jeju, Korea (South).
Choi, Y. M., Terao, Y., Kurihara, N., Iwai, A., Funaki, T., Kang, W., & Nguyen, D. T. (2021). Revisit the pitot static tubes in the standards. Flow Measurement and Instrumentation, 82, 102074.
Dias, J. N. (2023). Pitot-statics calibration using dynamic maneuvers and flight-path reconstruction techniques. AIAA SCITECH 2023 Forum, National Harbor, Maryland.
Diniz, S. B., & Pacheco, C. C. (2023). Real-time estimation of the heat transfer coefficient of pitot tubes undergoing freezing. International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, 33(1), 226-240.
Dobrowolski, B., Kabaciński, M., & Pospolita, J. (2005). A mathematical model of the self-averaging Pitot tube: A mathematical model of a flow sensor. Flow Measurement and Instrumentation, 16(4), 251-265.

FAA. (2017). AC 43-6D - Altitude reporting equipment and transponder system maintenance and inspection practices. https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_43-6D.pdf
General Electric. (2015). ADTS542F/552F/553F/554F User manual K0553 Revision C. https://www.instrumart.com/assets/GEDruck-ADTS55Xmanual.pdf? srsltid=AfmBOoqwhJyMOgQFI2PEQe1qGxpGPJJiztAwn-ROf6dVXXIMjsiXYsLl
Golparvar, A., & Yapici, M. K. (2020). Analysis of pitot tube airflow velocity sensor behavior in blockage situations. 2020 IEEE Sensors, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Hall, J. (1996). National transportation safety board safety recommendation. https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/A96_15_20.pdf
Imai, S., Klockowski, R., & Varela, C. A. (2013). Self-healing spatio-temporal data streams using error signatures. 2013 IEEE 16th International Conference on Computational Science and Engineering, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Klopfenstein Jr, R. (1998). Air velocity and flow measurement using a pitot tube. ISA Transactions, 37(4), 257- 263.
Koç, E., Ünsal, B., Tabanlı, H., & Yüceil, K. B. (2016). Transonik hız bölgesi için hız ve yükseklik ölçüm sistemi; pitot- statik prob tasarımı ve rüzgâr tüneli testleri. VI. Ulusal Havacılık Ve Uzay Konferansı (UHUK 2016), Kocaeli, Türkiye.
Kusmirek, S., Socha, V., Urban, D., Hanakova, L., Kripsky, F., Walton, R., & Pecho, P. (2024). Design of pitot-static tube shapes and their influence on airspeed measurement accuracy. Journal of Aerospace Engineering, 37(4), 04024045.
Li, X., Wang, S., Xie, D., & Yang, K. (2014). Analysis of upstream installation effects on the discharge coefficients of averaging pitot tubes using CFD. Proceeding of the 11th World Congress on Intelligent Control and Automation, Shenyang.
Malaquias, I. M., da Silva Filho, A. R., de Oliveira, P. H. I. A., & Thums, G. D. (2012). Design and development of a wireless pitot tube for utilization in flight test. ABCM Symposium Series in Mechatronics, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Moir, I., & Seabridge, A. G. (2003). Civil Avionics Systems. Professional Engineering Publishing.
Ortiz, V. M. (1996). Reporte final accidente aereo birgenair, Vuelo ALW-301, Febrero 06, 1996. http://www.fss.aero/accident-reports/dvdfiles/DO/1996-02-06-DO.pdf
Ribeiro, L., Saotome, O., d'Amore, R., & Hansen, R. d. O. (2022). High-speed and high-temperature calorimetric solid-state thermal mass flow sensor for aerospace application: A sensitivity analysis. Sensors, 22(9).
Sikorsky. (2010). S-70 Helicopter Manuel (TM 1-70-28-23/Chapter 8). S. A. Corporation.
Sun, K., & Gebre-Egziabher, D. (2020). A fault detection and isolation design for a dual pitot tube air data system. 2020 IEEE/ION Position, Location and Navigation Symposium (PLANS), Portland, OR, USA.
Sun, Z., Li, Z., & Zheng, J. (2009). Influence of improper installation on measurement performance of pitot tube. 2009 International Conference on Industrial Mechatronics and Automation, Chengdu.
Tabanlı, H., & Yüceil, K. B. (2021). Wind tunnel tests for a pitot-static probe designed to measure aircraft speed and altitude at subsonic compressible and transonic regimes. Journal of Aeronautics and Space Technologies, 14(2), 145-153.
Tilmans, J., Jackisch, S., & Moormann, D. (2025). Investigation of the influence of rain on pitot-static measuring systems of unmanned aerial vehicles. CEAS Aeronautical Journal, 16(1), 185-195.
Ünsal, B., Türk, A., & Hacıoğlu, A. (2020). Beş delikli pitot-statik tüp tasarımı ve hava araçları için kullanımı. 8. Ulusal Havacılık Ve Uzay Konferansı (UHUK-2020), Ankara, Türkiye.
Vinci, D., & Casciola, L. (2022). Rotorcraft pitot-static systems calibration process to reduce error in all flight regimes and all rotorcraft configurations. 48th European Rotorcraft Forum (ERF 2022), Winterthur, Switzerland.
Zhong, Z., Guo, J., Zuo, H., & Xu, J. (2020). A method of identifying pitot tube cover based on color histogram features and SVM. 2020 11th International Conference on Prognostics and System Health Management (PHM- 2020 Jinan), Jinan, China.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Avionics

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Fatih Alpaslan Kazan ^*
0000-0002-5461-0117
Türkiye

Ahmet Emin Aktemur
0009-0001-4911-9972
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

February 26, 2026

Publication Date

February 26, 2026

Submission Date

November 18, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 23, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 10 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.30518/jav.1824254

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA54ZK76SL

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Kazan, F. A., & Aktemur, A. E. (2026). Comprehensive Testing of Aircraft Pitot-Static Systems: Pressure-Based Indicators, Fault Impacts, and Leak Detection Methods. Journal of Aviation, 10(1), 12-23. https://doi.org/10.30518/jav.1824254

AMA

1.Kazan FA, Aktemur AE. Comprehensive Testing of Aircraft Pitot-Static Systems: Pressure-Based Indicators, Fault Impacts, and Leak Detection Methods. JAV. 2026;10(1):12-23. doi:10.30518/jav.1824254

Chicago

Kazan, Fatih Alpaslan, and Ahmet Emin Aktemur. 2026. “Comprehensive Testing of Aircraft Pitot-Static Systems: Pressure-Based Indicators, Fault Impacts, and Leak Detection Methods”. Journal of Aviation 10 (1): 12-23. https://doi.org/10.30518/jav.1824254.

EndNote

Kazan FA, Aktemur AE (February 1, 2026) Comprehensive Testing of Aircraft Pitot-Static Systems: Pressure-Based Indicators, Fault Impacts, and Leak Detection Methods. Journal of Aviation 10 1 12–23.

IEEE

[1]F. A. Kazan and A. E. Aktemur, “Comprehensive Testing of Aircraft Pitot-Static Systems: Pressure-Based Indicators, Fault Impacts, and Leak Detection Methods”, JAV, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 12–23, Feb. 2026, doi: 10.30518/jav.1824254.

ISNAD

Kazan, Fatih Alpaslan - Aktemur, Ahmet Emin. “Comprehensive Testing of Aircraft Pitot-Static Systems: Pressure-Based Indicators, Fault Impacts, and Leak Detection Methods”. Journal of Aviation 10/1 (February 1, 2026): 12-23. https://doi.org/10.30518/jav.1824254.

JAMA

1.Kazan FA, Aktemur AE. Comprehensive Testing of Aircraft Pitot-Static Systems: Pressure-Based Indicators, Fault Impacts, and Leak Detection Methods. JAV. 2026;10:12–23.

MLA

Kazan, Fatih Alpaslan, and Ahmet Emin Aktemur. “Comprehensive Testing of Aircraft Pitot-Static Systems: Pressure-Based Indicators, Fault Impacts, and Leak Detection Methods”. Journal of Aviation, vol. 10, no. 1, Feb. 2026, pp. 12-23, doi:10.30518/jav.1824254.

Vancouver

1.Fatih Alpaslan Kazan, Ahmet Emin Aktemur. Comprehensive Testing of Aircraft Pitot-Static Systems: Pressure-Based Indicators, Fault Impacts, and Leak Detection Methods. JAV. 2026 Feb. 1;10(1):12-23. doi:10.30518/jav.1824254