Air Data Computer

An Air Data Computer (ADC) processes raw measurements from pitot-static probes and temperature sensors to compute calibrated airspeed, true airspeed, Mach number, pressure altitude, density altitude, and vertical speed.

Modern ADCs are digital (DADC) and feed data to flight instruments, autopilot, flight management systems, and transponders. Redundancy is provided by multiple independent ADC units.

• Critical for accurate flight instrument displays
• Pitot-static blockage can cause erroneous ADC outputs
• RVSM-compliant aircraft require high-accuracy ADCs
• Integrated into Air Data Inertial Reference Units (ADIRU) on modern aircraft