19EAE448

AVIONICS
Module-1
Introduction to Avionics
Lecture-1
Course Objectives:

Introduce the students to the functioning and principle of operation of

various avionics systems, namely, flight sensors installed on modern
passenger and fighter aircraft.
Introduce the students to guidance, landing, the concepts of autopilots
and surveillance systems of UAVs and MAV’s,
 To introduce various digital electronic principles and working
operations of digital circuits.
To integrate the digital electronics with cockpit equipment
 To understand the various principles in flight disk and cockpit panels.
To study the communication and navigation equipment
Learning Outcomes

• At the end of the unit, students will be able to:

1. Understand the role of avionics and the principles of avionics in
flying machines (L2)
2. Knowledge of avionics subsystems in civil/ military aircraft and
space vehicles (L2, L3)
3. Explanation about the integrated avionics, weapon systems TCAS-I
and TCAS-II(L2, L6)
 • Importance and role of avionics,
• Basic principles of avionics,
Introduction to • Typical avionics subsystems in civil/ military aircraft and space vehicles need for
Avionics avionics in civil and military aircraft and space systems, importance of abilities,
• Integrated avionics and weapon systems,
• Traffic collision avoidance system - TCAS-I and TCAS-II,
• ground proximity warning system.
Introduction
• Avionics is a combination of aviation and electronics.
• The avionics system or Avionics sub-system depends on electronics.
Avionics grew in the 1950s and 1960s as electronic devices that replaced
the mechanical or analog equipment in the aircraft.
• Avionics equipment on a modern military or civil aircraft account for
around
30% of the total cost of the aircraft
40% in the case of a maritime patrol/antisubmarine aircraft or helicopter.
 Over 75% of the total cost of an airborne early warning aircraft (AWACS).
NEED FOR AVIONICS
• To enable the flight crew to carry out the aircraft mission safely and
efficiently.
• For civil airliners, the mission is to carry passengers to their
destination.
• For military aircraft, the mission is intercepting a hostile aircraft,
attacking a ground target, or conducting reconnaissance or maritime
patrol.
• Traffic Collision Avoidance System- TCAS
Introduction of Avionics
• Importance and Role of Avionics:
Avionics, the integration of aviation and electronics, plays a pivotal
role in modern aircraft by providing essential functionalities that
contribute to safety, efficiency, and the overall effectiveness of flight
operations.
The importance and role of avionics can be understood through
several key aspects:
Core
Avionic
system
•House Keeping Management Automation
of the background tasks which are essential
for the aircraft's safe and efficient
operation. Background tasks include
• i) Fuel management
•ii) Electrical power supply management
•iii) Hydraulic power supply management
•iv) Cabin / Cockpit pressurisation systems
• v) Environmental control systems
• vi) Warning systems vii) Maintenance and
monitoring systems.
The importance and role of avionics can be understood through several key
aspects:

• Safety Enhancement
• Navigation and Precision Control
• Communication Systems
• Situational Awareness
• Efficiency and Performance
• Weather Monitoring and Management
• Emergency Response and Monitoring
• Regulatory Compliance
• Technological Advancements
• The goal of Avionics system is
• – increased safety –
• Air traffic control requirements –
• All weather operation –
• Reduction in fuel consumption –
• Improved aircraft performance and control –
• Handling and reduction of maintenance costs
Basics principles of avionics
• Communications
• Navigation
• Monitoring
• Flight control
• Collision avoidance
• Fuel systems
• Weather systems
Basics principles of
avionics
Communications:
• Aircraft contains avionics in the cockpit. They usually
need quick access by pilots, and aircraft design places
them within reach.
• One of the more essential functions is communication.
• Systems connect to ground crew and passengers and
usually operate on the air-band of 118 MHz to 136.976
MHz, with slight variations on commercial aircraft for
international travel.
• Advanced military vessels also contain communication
avionics to reach satellites
Navigation:

• Air navigation depends on the position of the aircraft on

or above the Earth’s surface.
• Avionics uses satellite systems, like GPS or WAAS, or
inertial navigation systems and ground-based radio.
• Most navigation technology combines these systems
(e.g., GPS for primary navigation and radio-based for
emergencies).
• Older systems like VOR or LORAN require the pilot to
plot the course on a paper map first.
• Fortunately, new developments in avionics make that
necessary only in antique aeroplanes.
Monitoring:
• Monitoring includes dials, gauges and
instruments.
• If the cockpit contains computer monitors
instead of analog displays, it is called a “glass”
cockpit.
• Much like navigation, monitoring evolved into
more computer-based models rather than the
manual ones you still find in older vessels.
• However, these advancements prove
challenging when a pilot seeks to balance
automation with manual functions.
Flight control:

• Flight control refers to autopilot. Available on

commercial aircraft, this system initially kept
bomber planes steady to ensure accuracy.
• It later evolved to prevent pilot error and
reduce challenges during takeoff and landing.
• In helicopters, auto-stabilization is another
form of autopilot.
• Flight control devices and software undergo
frequent testing to ensure safety and FAA
compliance.
Collision avoidance:

• Traffic alert and collision avoidance systems (TCAS)

detect other aeroplanes and alert pilots to possible
collisions.
• The software includes instructions to avoid accidents
once it detects aircraft.
• TCAS makes flying safer and air traffic control
easier.
• It includes ground-proximity warning systems, too,
although that technology still has weaknesses and
room for improvement.
Fuel systems:

• Running out of fuel in your car leaves

you stranded, but the same incident in
an aeroplane is a disaster.
• The fuel quantity indication system
(FQIS) calculates the remaining fuel,
and the fuel control and monitoring
system (FCMS) manages fuel for
various tasks.
• These technologies together ensure
efficient fuel usage.
Weather systems:

• Pilots can’t see future weather

conditions, but these systems can warn
of turbulence or excessive precipitation.
• These warnings allow pilots to adjust
altitude to maintain a safe flight path.
• There are affordable light aircraft
options, which detect storm activity and
lightning, and more advanced systems
that produce weather radar.
Advantages

• Increased safety
• Air traffic control requirements
• All weather operation
• Reduction in fuel consumption
• Improved aircraft performance and control and
• handling and reduction in maintenance costs
Aircraft State Sensor Systems

• For control and navigation of the aircraft, the air data quantities are essential.
• Air Data Quantities are,
• Altitude
• Calibrated Airspeed
• Vertical speed
• True Airspeed
• Mach Number
• Airstream Incidence Angle.
• The air data computing system computes these quantities from the outputs of
sensors, which measure the static and total pressure and the outside air
temperature.
Communication System

• It provides the two way communication between the ground bases and the
aircraft or between aircrafts.
• A Radio Transmitter and Receiver was the first avionics system installed in
an aircraft.
• The different types of frequencies used for several ranges are given below.
• Long Range Communication – High Frequency (2 – 30 MHz)
• Medium Range Communication – Very High Frequency (30 – 100 MHz)
• Military Aircraft – Ultra High Frequency (250 – 400 MHz)
• Now a days, satellite communication systems are used to provide very
reliable communication.
Flight Control System

• It uses the electronic system in two areas.

• (i) Auto Stabilization
• Roll Auto Stabilizer System
• Pitch Auto Stabilizer System
• (ii) FBW Flight Control Systems
• It provides continuous automatic stabilisation of the aircraft by
computer control of the control surfaces from appropriate motion
sensors
Inertial Reference System

• The aircraft attitude and the direction in which it is heading are provided by
the inertial sensor systems (Comprise a set of gyros and accelerometers
which measures the aircraft's angular and linear motion).
• Navigation System
• The Navigation system provides Navigation Information (Aircraft‟s position,
Ground speed, Track angle).
• Dead Reckoning Systems
• Position Fixing Systems
• DR Navigation systems derive the vehicle‟s present position by estimating the
distance travelled from a known position from knowledge of the speed and
direction of the vehicle.
Types of DR-Dead Reckoning Systems

• Types of DR Navigation systems are,

• i) Inertial Navigation systems (Most
Accurate)
• ii) Doppler / Heading Reference Systems
(Used in
• Helicopters)
• iii) Air Data / Heading Reference Systems
(Low Accuracy
• when compared to the above systems)
Radio Navigation Systems: (Position Fixing Systems)

• A satellite or ground-based transmitter is used to transmit the signal,

and it is received by the receiver in the aircraft. According to the
received signals, a supporting computer is used to derive the
aircraft‟s position. The Prime Position Fixing System used in aircraft is
GPS.
• ILS-Instrument Landing Systems or Microwave Landing System is used
for approach guidance to the airfield.
• INTEGRATED AVIONICS and WEAPON SYSTEM
• The Avionics and Weapon System (AWS) in any modern-day fighter
aircraft enables the pilot to perform various mission functions.
Functional requirements of AWS- Avionics and Weapon System
(AWS) are,

• (i) Receive Inputs from sensors, communication

systems, Radio navigation systems, Identification
systems, Missiles, Electronic counter measures
systems, Pilot controls.
• (ii) Computation of required parameters for Navigation
and Fire control.
• (iii) Transferring the computed results to displays, Audio
system and weapons.
• (iv) Controlling of weapon launch / Firing.
• (v) Control / Co-ordinate / manage sensors optimally
Airborne Collision Avoidance
System or ACAS.
• After many years of extensive analysis,
development, and flight evaluation by the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), other
countries’ Civil Aviation Authorities (CAAs),
and the aviation industry, Traffic Alert and
Collision Avoidance System or TCAS was
developed to reduce the risk of mid-air
collisions between aircraft.
• In the international arena, this system is
known as the Airborne Collision Avoidance
System or ACAS.
TCAS-TRAFFIC COLLISION
AVOIDANCE SYSTEM
• The TCAS or Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System is a system
designed to reduce the incidence of mid-air collisions with other
aircraft.
• The TCAS is independent of air traffic control and flight navigation
instruments.
Introduction-
TCAS
• Over the years, air traffic has continued to
grow.
• The introduction of modern aircraft traffic
control systems made it possible to cope
with this growth while maintaining the
required level of flight safety.
• However, the danger of mid-air collisions
persists.
• Therefore, the development of effective
airborne collision avoidance systems for
aircraft in the air has been the goal of
aviation specialists from many countries.
Definition:ACAS

• The Airborne collision avoidance system

or ACAS is an aircraft system based on
secondary surveillance radar (SSR)
transponder signals that operate
independently of ground-based equipment
to advise the pilot on potentially conflicting
aircraft equipped with SSR transponders.
• The International Civil Aviation
Organization prescribes that an Airborne
Collision Avoidance System (ACAS) must
be installed and operational for all aircraft
heavier than 5700 Kg and all aircraft
authorised to transport more than 19
passengers.
Types of ACAS
TA-traffic advisory
RA- Resolution advisories

• ACAS I gives Traffic Advisories (TAs) but does not

recommend any manoeuvres. The only implementation of the
ACAS I concept is TCAS I. These equipments are limited to
interoperability and interference issues with ACAS II.
• ACAS II gives Traffic Advisories (TAs) and Resolution
Advisories (RAs) in the vertical sense (direction). The only
implementations of the ACAS II concept are TCAS II
Version 7.0 and Version 7.1.
• ACAS III gives TAs and RAs in vertical and/or horizontal
directions. ICAO SARPs for ACAS III have not been
developed. Currently, there are no plans to proceed with such
a development
Types of ACAS

• Traffic Advisories (TAs) -to assist the

pilot in the visual search for the intruder
aircraft and to prepare the pilot for a
potential RA; and
• Resolution Advisories (RAs) to
recommend maneuvers that will either
increase or maintain the existing vertical
separation from an intruder aircraft. When
the intruder aircraft is also fitted with
TCAS II, both TCAS’ co-ordinate their
RAs through the Mode S data link to
ensure that complementary RAs are
selected.
Types of ACAS
• Not all TCAS systems can be considered as accepted ACAS.
• TCAS I is mandated in the United States for smaller aircraft in
particular.
• TCAS II Versions 7.0 and 7.1 are mandated in Europe and elsewhere
Collision avoidance systems can be passive, like, for example, the
PCAS or Portable Collision Avoidance System, which only monitors
the surrounding aircraft without emitting any signal.
• This portable system is often used in General Aviation.
Some gliders are now equipped with an avoidance system named
FLARM.
FLARM-
• FLARM is particularly popular among glider pilots and is often used
in conjunction with other collision avoidance systems such as ADS-B.
The system is designed to improve safety in the air and reduce the risk
of mid-air collisions, which can be particularly dangerous for smaller
aircraft. While FLARM is not yet mandatory in all aircraft, many
pilots choose to use it as an additional safety measure.
ACAS II as a standard
https://mode-s.org/decode/content/mod
e-s/4-acas.html#chap:acas

• Currently, the only commercially available

implementations of the ICAO standard for ACAS
II (Airborne Collision Avoidance System) are
TCAS II versions 7.0 and version 7.1 (Traffic alert
and Collision Avoidance System).
• ACAS II is an aircraft system based on Secondary
Surveillance Radar (SSR) transponder signals.
• ACAS II interrogates the Mode C and Mode S
transponders of nearby aircraft (‘intruders’) and,
from the replies, tracks their altitude and range and
issues alerts to the pilots, as appropriate.
• ACAS II works independently of the aircraft
navigation, flight management systems, and Air
Traffic Control (ATC) ground systems.
• https://mode-s.org/decode/content/mode-s/4-acas.html#chap:acas
• https://www.captainpilot.com/acas-airborne-collision-avoidance-syst
em
• https://www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/media/advisory_circular/tcas%
20ii%20v7.1%20intro%20booklet.pdf