Inertial Errors in Air Data and Inertial Reference Systems (ADIRS): Practical Identification and Mitigation

Abstract

Air Data and Inertial Reference Systems (ADIRS) consist of pitot tubes, static ports, angle-of-attack (AoA) sensors, sometimes total air temperature (TAT) sensors, and strapdown inertial sensors to estimate airspeed, altitude, attitude, and acceleration. During maneuvers, turbulence, icing, or vibration, inertial effects distort (i) the aerometric channel (pressures, AoA) and (ii) the inertial channel itself (accelerometers, gyroscopes). This paper explains the main error mechanisms in simple terms, shows how engineers detect and separate them in data, and summarizes practical hardware and algorithmic mitigations that fit within certification constraints.