Ace the Cessna 172 Systems Challenge 2025 – Soar High with Confidence!

Electrical Bus 2 in the Cessna 172 is responsible for supplying power to critical components, ensuring their operation during flight. One of the key components connected to Electrical Bus 2 is the pitot heat. The pitot heat is essential for maintaining accurate airspeed readings in conditions where ice formation could impede the function of the pitot tube, which measures dynamic air pressure to determine airspeed. By supplying power through Electrical Bus 2, the pitot heat prevents ice accumulation, thereby ensuring the reliability of the airspeed indicator—crucial for safe flight operations.

Cabin lights, fuel pump, and navigation lights are typically powered by different electrical buses, where their functions do not necessitate the same level of redundancy or reliability as the pitot heat system in adverse weather. Thus, the inclusion of pitot heat in Electrical Bus 2 underscores its importance in flight safety and operational integrity.