Avionics

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Radar and other avionics in a Cessna Citation

F-105 Thunderchief with avionics laid out

Avionics are the electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites, and spacecraft.
Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple
systems, and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to perform individual functions.
These can be as simple as asearchlight for a police helicopter or as complicated as the tactical
system for an airborne early warningplatform.
The term avionics is a portmanteau of the words aviation and electronics.
Contents
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1 History
o

1.1 Modern avionics

2 Aircraft avionics

2.1 Communications

2.2 Navigation

2.3 Monitoring

2.4 Aircraft flight-control systems

2.5 Collision-avoidance systems

2.6 Black Boxes

2.7 Weather systems

2.8 Aircraft management systems

3 Mission or tactical avionics

o

3.1 Military communications

3.2 Radar

3.3 Sonar

3.4 Electro-Optics

3.5 ESM/DAS

3.6 Aircraft networks

3.7 Disaster relief and air ambulance

4 See also

5 Notes

6 References

7 External links

History[edit]

Roughly 20 percent of the costs of the F15E is in avionics.

The term avionics was coined by journalist Philip J. Klass as a portmanteau of aviation
electronics.[1][2] Many modern avionics have their origins in World War II wartime developments.
For example, autopilot systems that are prolific today were started to help bomber planes fly
steadily enough to hit precision targets from high altitudes.[3] Famously, radar was developed in
the UK, Germany, and the United States during the same period.[4] Modern avionics is a
substantial portion of military aircraft spending. Aircraft like the F-15E and the now
retired F-14 have roughly 20 percent of their budget spent on avionics. Most
modern helicopters now have budget splits of 60/40 in favour of avionics.[citation needed]
The civilian market has also seen a growth in cost of avionics. Flight control systems (fly-by-wire)
and new navigation needs brought on by tighter airspaces, have pushed up development costs.
The major change has been the recent boom in consumer flying. As more people begin to use
planes as their primary method of transportation, more elaborate methods of controlling aircraft
safely in these high restrictive airspaces have been invented. [citation needed]

Modern avionics[edit]
Avionics plays a heavy role in modernization initiatives like the Federal Aviation Administration's
(FAA) Next Generation Air Transportation System project in the United States and the Single
European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) initiative in Europe. The Joint Planning and Development
Office put forth a roadmap for avionics in six areas:[5]

Published Routes and Procedures Improved navigation and

routing

Negotiated Trajectories Adding data communications to create

preferred routes dynamically

Delegated Separation Enhanced situational awareness in the

air and on the ground

LowVisibility/CeilingApproach/Departure Allowing operations

with weather constraints with less ground infrastructure

Surface Operations To increase safety in approach and

departure

ATM Efficiencies Improving the ATM process

Founded in 1957, the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) represents more than 1,300 member
companies, including government-certified international repair stations specializing in
maintenance, repair and installation of avionics and electronic systems in general aviation
aircraft. The AEA membership also includes manufacturers of avionics equipment, instrument
repair facilities, instrument manufacturers, airframe manufacturers, test equipment