Instrument failure

As pilots of light aircraft we need instruments to give us information on how the engine is going and to navigate to our destination. But what happens when suddenly, in mid flight, those instruments are no longer available? Regardless of whether you fly an aeroplane, drive a car or pilot a boat, one thing that has happened with all three in recent years is that they are getting more dependent on electrically powered systems and instrumentation.

Should a system or instrument in a car or boat fail, one can, in general terms, simply pull over and look for a tow home. In an aircraft we lack the ability to hit the hold button and whistle up the Aeroplane Association and have the serviceman come and assist us with an electrical or instrument problem in the air.