The Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) is an aircraft system for displaying engine parameters and alerting crew to system configuration or faults. It consolidates engine and subsystem indications, providing a centrally located crew alerting message display. By incorporating instrumentation of various engine parameters - revolutions per minute, temperature values, fuel flow and quantity, and oil pressure - EICAS enables the crew to quickly identify any possible damage or failure. Its crew-alerting (CAS) functionality further supports immediate awareness of abnormal operational or airplane system conditions, guiding subsequent corrective or compensatory action.
What is the meaning of EICAS in aviation?
EICAS stands for Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System, which is defined as an aircraft system for displaying engine parameters and alerting crew to system configuration or faults. The EICAS system will display engine parameters and monitor electrical systems, providing for aircraft engines as an integrated system. EICAS systems are found on Boeing, Embraer and many other aircraft types.
Engine-Indicating and Crew-Alerting System (EICAS) is an integrated system used in modern aircraft to provide the flight crew with centralized instrumentation and annunciations for engines and multiple other aircraft systems. EICAS displays engine parameters - speed of rotation, temperature values including exhaust gas temperature, fuel flow and quantity, oil pressure - so that crew can quickly identify any possible damage or failure, and it provides crew alerting messages that replace the illuminated fault buttons found in older airplanes.
EICAS consolidates engine and subsystem indications into one display. Engine instruments and crew alerting systems are in one display. Electronic CAS that is part of an EICAS display is a superset of old panels and can display a much bigger set of alerts. The system uses one dual channel Data Concentrator Unit (DCU) that concentrates input signals from the aircraft and engine systems and provides two redundant high-speed ARINC 429 buses to the EICAS display(s) and the MFDs, giving EICAS high connectivity and robust data acquisition and routing.
Beyond engines, EICAS monitors hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, de-icing, environmental and control-surface systems. It displays landing-gear position, flap/slat position, cabin pressure, brake temperature and tyre pressure indications on the lower right side of the status display, and it showcases remaining fuel. EICAS displays some system status and maintenance information; its maintenance portion is used to monitor, record and retrieve maintenance information, engine performance data and engine exceedances stored in the EICAS computer memory through the EICAS MAINT control panel.
EICAS messages have four priority levels - WARNING (red), CAUTION (amber), ADVISORY and STATUS - and are a way to inform pilots of failures or faults of the aircraft. Root EICAS messages, which generate more messages with them, are highlighted by a preceding chevron ‘>’. Some EICAS messages are inhibited on takeoff or approach and landing to prevent disturbance. EICAS assists the pilot in assimilating, interpreting, prioritizing and acting upon the large amount of information that is available. The recommended remedial action called a checklist is then read from the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH).
EICAS systems are found on Boeing, Embraer and many other aircraft types. Airbus uses a similar system called Electronic Centralized Aircraft Monitor (ECAM). New regulations require all aircraft certified after December 31st, 2022 to have EICAS onboard.
Expert behind this article
Jim Goodrich
Jim Goodrich is a pilot, aviation expert and founder of Tsunami Air.
