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Avionics, in common parlance, stands for aviation electronics. It is the development and production of electronic instruments for use in aviation and astronautics and such electronic instruments themselves. Avionic systems include control, monitoring, communications and the display and management of multiple systems that are fitted to aircraft to perform individual functions. Such systems majorly include
control apparatus
performance instruments
communication instruments
navigation system
collision avoidance system
black box
Avionics are the electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites, and spacecraft. My goal in this paper is to describe the basic avionics system being used in the aviation industry these days.
AVIONIC EQUIPMENTS
The cockpit of an aircraft is a typical location for housing the avionic equipments. The aircrafts power their avionic equipments using DC or AC electrical currents systems.
Control Apparatus. A conventional aircraft control apparatus consists of the altitude gyro, flight- control surfaces, the respective cockpit controls, aircraft engine controls and the necessary operating mechanisms to control an aircraft’s direction in flight. These control instruments aid in steering and controlling the craft (“Avionics” 1). Speed and power indicating instruments such as the tachometer form part of the control apparatus.
“An altitude gyro or gyroscope is a device that uses Earth’s gravity to help determine orientation. Its design consists of a freely-rotating disk called a rotor, mounted onto a spinning axis in the center of a larger and more stable wheel. As the axis turns, the rotor remains stationary to indicate the central gravitational pull, and thus indicating which way is down” (Goodrich 1).
This is what pilots use to determine their orientation and altitude for better flight control. Almost all the time, the aircraft’s flight altitude needs to be adjusted by the pilot which is consequently done through flight control surfaces. The basic principle is that the aircraft is free to rotate around three axes that are perpendicular to each other and intersect at its centre of gravity, as the diagram depicts. To control the position and direction the pilot must be able to control rotation about each of them as illustrated in Fig.1 (Klein 45).
Cockpit controls act as an operating system [of a computer] to an aircraft which allows pilots to fly an entire plane just by being seated in one place. These controls enable a pilot to command, direct and control the aircraft’s engine, powerplant and other sub-controls for effective navigation and flight. It constitutes a control yoke, rudder pedals and throttles controls among others. Commands to monitor, control and provide combustion to the engine form an important tool of cockpit controls. The engine of an aircraft is basically a basic internal-combustion engine driving a propeller. The engine controls constitute the master switch, throttle, propeller controls, mixture controls, ignition switch, fuel, heat and temperature controls and other pressure gauges.
Performance Instruments. These include the Altimeter, Machmeter, Magnetometer, turn and slip indicator and varied devices that show airspeed, vertical velocity, and angle of attack (“Avionics” 2). These devices indicate the pilot the performance of an aircraft in flight. These serve more as a barometer to measure the efficiency of the controls.
An Altimeter or altitude meter is an instrument for determining the altitude attained by the aircraft. It is especially a barometric or radar device fitted in the cockpit. It uses atmospheric pressure to measure the altitude just like most of the other performance instruments. The Machmeter is a pivot-static system flight device which provides an indication of the Mach number, which is the ratio between the aircraft true air speed and the local speed of sound. A magnetometer uses electric signals to detect a magnetic field (“Avionics Summary” 6). The turn and slip indicator shows the rate and direction of a turn.
Communication Instruments. Such instruments connect the flight deck to the ground and the passengers. These instruments include two-way radios allowing direct voice communication between the aircraft and the ground as well as other aircraft; these operate across a wide spectrum, ranging from high frequency (HF) through very high frequency (VHF) to ultrahigh frequency (UHF) (“Avionics” 2).
Navigation System. Navigation is the determination of position and velocity on or above the surface of the Earth and accurately maintaining a desired course. Avionics can use satellite-based systems, ground based systems or any combination thereof. These systems calculate the position automatically and display it to the flight crew on moving map displays. Electromagnetic radiations or radio signals are also used while navigating. Navigation systems must fulfill certain standard performance requirements which are Accuracy, Integrity, Availability and Continuity of Service. These systems are thus, categorized on the basis of these requirements (“Avionics Summary” 8).
Collision Avoidance System. In his paper, Rocky Jedick stated that this system is a type of Ground Collision Avoidance Technology that operates independently of ground-based equipment and air traffic control in warning pilots of the presence of other aircraft that may present a threat of collision. If the risk of collision is imminent, the system indicates a maneuver that will reduce the risk of collision. These systems use radar altimeters as a key element to detect threats.
Black Box. A cockpit voice recorder and a flight data recorder constitute a black box. A Black box is vital as it helps crash investigators to determine the series of events which occurred right before the plane crash. In her article Malaysia Airlines MH370: the black box explained, Sophie Curtis describes that the black boxes are painted orange and weigh around 10 kg. They are made up of aluminum and are designed to withstand massive impact, fire or high pressure. Each recorder is fitted with an Underwater Locator Beacon (ULB) which gets activated as soon as the recorder comes in contact with water which helps to locate the plane if it crashes in the sea. Fig.2 shows an image of a typical black box fitted in aircrafts.
CONCLUSION
Avionic Systems are like organs to an aircraft. Aviation has evolved since time because of modernization of avionics. A pilot is required to have requisite on hand knowledge of the basic avionics system which I discussed in my paper. Before takeoff, the control apparatus needs to be checked since it is like a Central Processing Unit controlling the entire system. Engine controls are run in order to provide ignition for taking off. The airplane is controlled by deflection of flight control surfaces with which the pilot adjusts the airplane’s altitude during takeoff, flight maneuvering and landing. While in flight, the airplane needs to be regularly directed on the designated air pathways for which the pilot needs to constantly rotate the three axes of the plane using power and the rudder. When the plane is at height, the pilot needs to constantly monitor the plane’s performance viz. the atmospheric pressure, temperature, weather and magnetic fields using avionics. It is mandatory to constantly communicate the location and conditions of the plane to the base for effective navigation and directions which is done through communication instruments. While in flight, emergencies may occur due to collision threats, adverse weather conditions or others for which effective controls and avionics have been put in place. The future of avionics is undoubtedly a bright one since more effective and advanced technologies and systems are entering the market which hopefully in turn, will help us to prevent events such as the MH 370 airline incident.
Works Cited
“Avionics.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 2015. Web. 9 July 2015.
Goodrich, Ryan. “Accelerometer vs. Gyroscope: What’s the Difference?” Livescience. Livescience.com, 1 October 2013. Web. 10 July 2015.
“Avionics Summary- Full Version.” Community of Aerospace Engineering students. Aerostudents.com. n.d. PDF file.
Jedick, Rocky. “Ground Collision Avoidance System.” The Aviationist. The Aviationist.com, 2 February 2015. Web. 10 July 2015.
Curtis, Sophie. “Malaysia Airlines MH370: the black box explained.” The Telegraph 29 January 2015 late ed.: A1. Print.
