Avionics

In-depth maintenance of the interior electronics on most avionics devices is performed only by certified repair stations and trained avionics technicians. The airframe technician is responsible for installation, maintenance, inspection, and proper performance of avionics in the aircraft. Modern aircraft increasingly employ digital electronics in avionics rather than analog electronics. Transistors are used in digital … Read more

The solid-state semiconductor devices described in the previous Electron Control Valves section can be found in both analog and digital electronic circuits. As digital electronics continue to evolve, many analog circuits are being replaced. However, many aircraft still use analog electronics in radio and navigation equipment, as well as in other aircraft systems. A brief … Read more

Early aircraft were equipped with radio communication and navigational devices that were constructed with analog electronic circuits. They used vacuum tubes that functioned as electron control valves. These were later replaced by solid-state devices. Today, digital electronic circuits dominate modern avionics. A brief look at various electron control valves used on aircraft follows. Electron Control … Read more

Electronic devices represent and manipulate real-world phenomena through the use of electrical signals. Electronic circuits are designed to perform a wide array of manipulations. Analog representations are continuous. Some aspect of an electric signal is modified proportionally to the real-world item that is being represented. For example, a microphone has electricity flowing through it that … Read more

Long Range Navigation (LORAN) is a type of RNAV that is no longer in operation in the United States. It was developed during World War II, and the most recent edition, LORAN-C, was very useful and accurate for aviators as well as mariners. LORAN uses radio wave pulses from a series of towers and an … Read more

The history of avionics is the history of the use of electronics in aviation. Both military and civil aviation requirements contributed to the development. The First World War brought about an urgent need for communications. Voice communications from ground-to-air and from aircraft-to-aircraft were established. [Figure 1] The development of aircraft reliability and use for civilian … Read more

Much of aviation communication and navigation is accomplished through the use of radio waves. Communication by radio was the first use of radio frequency transmissions in aviation. Radio Waves A radio wave is invisible to the human eye. It is electromagnetic in nature and part of the electronic spectrum of wave activity that includes gamma … Read more

In the early years of aviation, pilots depended mainly on a compass, a map, and dead reckoning for navigation. These methods were useful in clear weather, but they became unreliable when clouds, darkness, or poor visibility prevented pilots from seeing the terrain below. As aviation developed into a safer and more reliable form of transportation, … Read more

Global positioning system (GPS) navigation is the fastest growing type of navigation in aviation. It is accomplished through the use of NAVSTAR satellites positioned and maintained in orbit around the Earth by the U.S. Government. Continuous coded transmissions from the satellites facilitate locating the position of an aircraft equipped with a GPS receiver with extreme … Read more