Category: Systems Engineering Fundamentals

Overview Software is made of logic, data, and control decisions. Aircraft system software requires a top-down approach, beginning at the topmost level of system requirements and progressing “downward” into levels of greater detail. Even at the lowest, most detailed level, each element of software must be traceable to an aircraft or system performance requirement. For…

Introduction The FAA has a mandate to promote safety—of people carried in an aircraft, of other aircraft in flight in the same airspace, and of people and property on the ground beneath the flight path of aircraft. Within that framework, the FAA has three main priorities: The Standard Airworthiness Certificate is the last in a…

In the airline industry, maintainability has evolved a high profile. The maintenance costs that result from poor maintainability are increasingly less acceptable to major airline customers than was the case in years past. The airline customer is now demanding very high levels of maintainability in their aircraft. Maintainability is a quality, and it results from…

The systems engineer makes many design decisions that affect cockpit crews. Since the earlier days much has been learned about the interfaces between crews, cockpits, and systems, and much of that has been incorporated into the B-777. With airplane design becoming increasingly complex, it becomes ever more important that systems engineers carefully consider the crew…

This section presents important design considerations for controlling electromagnetic effects on the aircraft and equipment. These design techniques are presented in elementary form to emphasize the importance of each design. In the real world, various combinations of these techniques should be used. Two design levels are considered: aircraft level and equipment level. Aircraft level Aircraft-level…

Introduction Almost all systems in an aircraft use electrical power in some capacity. Because of the complexity inherent in aircraft electrical design, electrical power considerations must be addressed early in the design process. More often than not, the testing of power system specifications is done only at the LRU/component level and not at the complete…

Overview This section presents mechanical design and installation considerations with an emphasis on interface and coordination between engineering functions. The mechanical systems covered in this section include flight controls, hydraulics, landing gear, and the water and waste systems. Some of the interface and/or requirements data come from, or are related to, aerodynamics, autoflight, proximity and…

Overview In this section the design and installation of the aircraft’s electrical and electronic wiring is discussed. Due to the complex nature of wiring installations, it cannot be overemphasized that coordination between the system designers and the electrical designers must begin at an early phase. Accessibility Due to the increasing role that electrical and electronic…

This section addresses various electrical and mechanical installation considerations important to the systems engineer. The purpose of this section is to provide an introduction to installation methods and practices most applicable to the system designer. The intent is not to make the student an installations expert, but rather to provide interfacing and coordination information between…

Design for safety is a method of design in which safety analysis is integral to the design process, rather than “added on” at the end. This approach has been made necessary by the ethical, economic, and legal demands of modern airplane system design. The evolution of aircraft systems and standards requires an evolution in the…