Fundamentals of Aircraft Systems and Avionics

The fly-by-wire system replaces conventional mechanical flight controls with an electronic interface, using flight control computers to translate pilot commands into actuated control surface movements via hydraulic or electric actuators.

Discover how radio navigation systems determine aircraft position using angular directions, time of flight, and range from beacons and satellites, aided by ground stations for safe takeoffs and landings.

Learn how the global positioning system provides seamless, space-based navigation for aviation, enabling three-dimensional position determination and collision avoidance from satellites to aircraft and ATC.

The instrument landing system provides azimuth and glide slope guidance, using the localizer for horizontal guidance and the glide slope for vertical guidance, enabling safe landings in adverse weather.

The VOR system is a very high frequency radio navigation network that guides aircraft by fixed ground beacons, determining position and course with ATC signals.

Explore how hydraulic systems use a pump to push fluid and transmit pressure, converting hydraulic energy into mechanical energy for aircraft actuators in landing gear, flaps, and brakes.

Explore how aircraft brake systems convert kinetic energy to heat via friction on a stationary brake disc, with hydraulic actuation and thrust and spoiler integration for safe landings.

Explore the landing gear system as a crucial aircraft subsystem that absorbs and dissipates landing energy, featuring retractable gear, shock absorbers, wheels and tires, brakes, and steering and retraction mechanisms.

Explore how stall warning systems detect angle of attack to alert pilots before stall, using audible alarms to signal increasing lift loss and stall risk.

The ground proximity warning system alerts pilots to imminent terrain or obstacle threats, using radar and GPS inputs to provide look-ahead, radio altitude, and audio-visual warnings.

Identify the traffic collision avoidance system (tcas) that monitors traffic via transponder signals to provide resolution advisory and traffic advisories, helping pilots avoid mid-air collisions independently of air traffic control.

Explore the aircraft fire protection system with fixed extinguishing for engine and APU. Includes cargo and lavatories, fire detection system, detectors, and crew observations.

Understand how aircraft oxygen systems store or generate pure oxygen, regulate delivery with regulators and masks or cannulas, and distribute it to crew and passengers for normal and emergency use.