Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS

CONSIDERATIONS
IN THE
FITMENT OF COMPLEX MISSION AVIONICS
SYSTEMS IN AIRCRAFT

JC Bauer
18 Jul 94
(Rev 3 NOV 03)

Page 1 of 24

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS

EXAMPLE OF A "SIMPLE" REQUIREMENT

TO INSTALL A SEA SEARCH RADAR IN A CHALLENGER

AIRCRAFT

THE RADAR IS TO HAVE ALL-ROUND COVERAGE

RADAR IS TO BE USED BY AN OBSERVER IN THE REAR

CABIN

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS
ANTENNA IDENTIFICATION
Standard CL-600 "Challenger"
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

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Weather Radar
ILS Glideslope
ATC Transponder
ADF Combined Loop/Sense
VHF # 1
VHF # 2
DME # 1
DME # 2
Radio Altimeter
Marker Beacon
Emergency Locator
VOR/ILS Localizer
HF

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS

Page 5 of 24

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS
ANTENNA IDENTIFICATION

Modified CL-600 "Challenger"

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

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Weather Radar
ILS Glideslope
ATC Transponder
ADF Combined Loop/Sense
VHF # 1
VHF # 2 - Relocated
DME # 1
DME # 2
Radio Altimeter
Marker Beacon
Emergency Locator
VOR/ILS Localizer
HF
Spinning Antenna Assembly

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS

BASIC FEASIBILITY QUESTIONS

-

WHAT RADAR MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS

CAN ANY OF THE RADARS MEETING THE REQUIREMENT BE, IN FACT,

INSTALLED IN THE AIRCRAFT
-

WEIGHT

VOLUME

RADOME

ELECTRICAL POWER

COOLING

EFFECTS ON AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS

BASIC FEASIBILITY QUESTIONS

(CONTD)

WHAT OTHER THINGS NEED TO BE DONE TO MAKE THE RADAR

USEABLE FOR ITS PURPOSE IN THE AIRCRAFT
-

CREW STATION

HEADING AND NAVIGATION DATA TO RADAR

RADAR CONTACT LOGGING. ETC

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS

MAJOR FACTOR AREAS

-

STRUCTURAL

AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE, HANDLING, STABILITY, AND CONTROL

AVIONICS AND ELECTRICAL

ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY

HUMAN FACTORS

RADOME

MISCELLANEOUS!

REGULATORY AND CERTIFICATION

TESTING AND VERIFICATION

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS
STRUCTURAL
-

RADOME ATTACHMENT STRENGTH

AIRCRAFT PRESSURIZATION PRESSURE BARRIER

LOCAL REINFORCEMENT OF FUSELAGE

HOLE CUT IN FUSELAGE FOR ANTENNA MAST

RADOME MOUNTING

RADOME AERODYNAMIC FORCES

ANTENNA PEDESTAL MOUNTING

AIRFRAME DESIGN PHILOSOPHY (SAFE LIFE, DAMAGE TOLERANT, FAIL

SAFE, ETC)

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS
STRUCTURAL
(CONTD)

CORROSION CONSIDERATIONS
-

MUST NOT IMPAIR EXISTING PROTECTION

MUST NOT ADD NEW CORROSION SOURCES

NEW ENVIRONMENT (?)

STRUCTURAL INSPECTABILITY, MAINTAINABILITY, AND REPAIRABILITY

CREW STATION AND AVIONICS RACKS

-

NORMAL OPERATION

CRASHWORTHINESS

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS
PERFORMANCE, HANDLING, STABILITY, AND CONTROL
-

CHANGES IN CENTRE OF GRAVITY (PITCH STABILITY)

CHANGES IN STABILITY DUE TO AERODYNAMIC EFFECTS

EFFECTS DUE TO DRAG ON

-

RANGE

CLIMB

ACCELERATION (TAKE-OFF)

LIFT (COULD BE POSITIVE)

CHANGES IN HANDLING (FEEL)

POSSIBLE CHANGES NEEDED TO AUTO-PILOT (OR FLY-BY-WIRE SYSTEM)

[SOFTWARE CHANGES #!#!#!#!#!#!#!]

POSSIBILITY THAT INSTALLATION LEADS TO FLIGHT ENVELOPE

RESTRICTIONS

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS

AVIONICS AND ELECTRICAL

-

ADEQUACY OF ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION

SYSTEM

INTERCOMMUNICATION SYSTEM EXTENSION

ACCESS FOR MAINTENANCE (ESPECIALLY RADAR PEDESTAL AND

ANTENNA)

OUTPUTS FROM EXISTING FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION ELECTRONICS

-

POSITION OUTPUTS, HEADING OUTPUTS

FLY-TO-POINT INPUTS

WIRING AND CONNECTORS

ANTENNA RELOCATION (EXISTING ANTENNAS)

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS
AVIONICS AND ELECTRICAL
(CONTD)

POSSIBLE MODIFICATIONS TO EXISTING FLIGHT AND NAVIGATION

ELECTRONICS TO PROVIDE THE ABOVE
-

FLIGHT-CRITICAL OR FLIGHT-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS MAY BE

AFFECTED

SOFTWARE MODIFICATIONS [!#!#!#!#!] MAY BE NEEDED

PROVISION OF SPECIFIED ENVIRONMENT FOR RADAR BOXES

-

SHOCK

DUST

VIBRATION

HUMIDITY

COOLING

ALTITUDE

POWER PURITY, ETC

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS
ELECTROMAGNETIC ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
MOST OFTEN REFERRED TO AS
ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY

MAJOR ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE (EMI) EFFECTS

-

RADIATED INTERFERENCE
-

ANTENNA TO ANTENNA

INSIDE AIRCRAFT

CONDUCTED INTERFERENCE

MAGNETICALLY COUPLED (INDUCTIVE) INTERFERENCE

PROBLEMS PECULIAR TO RADOME

-

LIGHTNING

STATIC ACCUMULATION

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS

HUMAN FACTORS
-

SEATING, INCLUDING CRASH POSITION

ACCESSIBILITY OF CONTROLS

VIEWABILITY OF DISPLAYS

LIGHTING AND EFFECTS OF AMBIENT LIGHTING

WORK SURFACE AND HAND RESTS

ENVIRONMENTAL FATIGUE FACTORS (NOISE, VIBRATION, G, ETC)

ESCAPE ROUTES

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS

RADOME
-

ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
-

POWER LOSS

BEAM DISTORTION

LIGHTNING

RAIN EROSION

IMPACT RESISTANCE
-

NORMAL OPERATIONS (SMALL RUNWAY DEBRIS ETC)

ABNORMAL OPERATIONS (HAIL)

ACCIDENTS (BIRD STRIKES)

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS

RADOME
(CONTD)

STRENGTH

MANUFACTURABILITY, REPRODUCIBILITY, INSTALLABILITY OF REQUIRED

SHAPE

AERODYNAMIC ACCEPTABILITY OF REQUIRED SHAPE

GROUND CLEARANCE (TIRE(S) BLOWN, STRUT(S) DEPRESSURIZED)

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS

MISCELLANEOUS (BUT NOT UNIMPORTANT) FACTORS

-

NOSEWHEEL DEBRIS DEFLECTORS

AIRFLOW TO ENGINES

ICING

DOCUMENTATION
-

DESIGN

MAINTENANCE

OPERATION

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS
REGULATORY AND CERTIFICATION

CIVIL STANDARDS
-

FAA

DOT

RTCA

ARINC

SAE

ETC, ETC, ETC

MILITARY STANDARDS

DEMONSTRATION OF ADHERENCE TO STANDARDS

VARIANCES IN STANDARDS BETWEEN COUNTRIES

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS
TESTING AND VERIFICATION
-

REASONS
-

SOUND ENGINEERING ETHICS AND PRACTICE

CUSTOMER

REGULATORY AUTHORITIES

STRATEGIES
-

INSPECTION

ANALYSIS

DEMONSTRATION

TEST

STRATEGIES MUST BE CHOSEN WITH A CLEAR AIM IN MIND

DESIGN IS SOMETIMES DRIVEN BY AVAILABLE TEST AND VERIFICATION

STRATEGIES (ESPECIALLY IN STRUCTURES)

THE DETAILS OF THE EXECUTION OF A TEST WILL DETERMINE THE REAL

WORTH OF A TEST

Page 21 of 24

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS

HOW TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE AIRCRAFT

-

MODEL SPECIFICATION

MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN AND TEST DATA (STRESS BOOKS, ETC.)

DRAWINGS

SPECIFICATIONS FOR BOUGHT-OUT COMPONENTS

PERSONAL INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ITS RECORDS (VITAL FOR

OLDER OR ALREADY MODIFIED AIRCRAFT)

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS

SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF ENGINEERING COMPLEXITY

-

AN UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED REQUIREMENT MUST EXIST OR MUST BE

WORKED OUT

INTELLIGENT TEAMWORK
-

ACTIVE SHARING OF KNOWLEDGE

SUPPRESSION OF THE EGO

INTEREST IN THE NEXT PERSON'S WORK AND PROBLEMS

RESPECT FOR OTHER PEOPLE'S SPECIALTIES

ABILITY TO EXPLAIN YOURSELF CLEARLY AND SIMPLY TO OTHERS

ABILITY TO WRITE CLEAR, STRUCTURED, EXPOSITORY PROSE

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Carleton University, MAE

AERO 4003 Aerospace Systems Design

AVIONICS
SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF ENGINEERING COMPLEXITY
(CONTD)
-

ITERATIVE APPROACH TO DESIGN

ATTENTION TO DETAIL

BLIND HANDBOOK ENGINEERING IS OUT

SOUND DOCUMENTATION AND CONFIGURATION CONTROL

SOUND TESTING AND VERIFICATION STRATEGIES

CONTINUOUS LEARNING, BOTH PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL

SYSTEMS ENGINEERING IS A DISCIPLINE, A WAY OF DOING THINGS, NOT

APPLIED PHYSICS IN THE CLASSICAL ENGINEERING SENSE - BUT YOU DO
NEED WIDE ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE AS A
FOUNDATION

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