Over the years, the means by which pilots have operated various aircraft control elements have changed drastically. Early designs relied entirely upon mechanically operated systems which demanded a significant force output from pilots. As the aerodynamic demands of airplanes became non-negligible, engineers elected a hydro-mechanical configuration to relieve operator fatigue. This design principle would continue to dominate the market until the full roll-out of the fly-by-wire (FBW) system in the 1970s. This revolutionary system is now the standard on many commercial and military planes today. In this blog, we will discuss the components and operation of fly-by-wire systems.

The GPS is a United States Department of Defense funded and maintained military navigation system that has been in use since 1995. Full Operational Capability (FOC) of the GPS requires 24 blocks of II/IIA or later satellites functioning in their assigned orbits. Though GPS lacks the accuracy of aircraft inertial navigation systems to be used in all phases of flight, it is often used in oceanic and/or remote airspace travels and as a supplementary system when backed by an alternate means of navigation. This system was immediately made available to civilians at no cost, though civil users are denied access to the highest military accuracies. Despite this restriction, the system that civilians are permitted to use is extremely precise for integration in all modes of transportation. This article serves as a guide to GPS aircraft installation and operation.

Capacitors are a type of device that stores energy similar to a battery. However, the charge in a battery is stored as chemical energy, whereas the charge in a capacitor is stored in the form of an electrostatic field. As such, they are commonly found in power supply units, air conditioning systems, appliances, lighting systems, and more. In general, the majority of capacitors can be classified as either fixed or variable with different usages for each.

Fasteners are an essential part of every piece of machinery and are used to link two or more things mechanically, either permanently or non-permanently. For parts that only need to be fastened once, a single-use or permanent fastener is necessary. However, other parts may need to be consistently opened or detached for regular maintenance. Therefore, these parts require non-permanent fastenings which can be removed and reused consistently without damage to the fastener or the surrounding components. Some fasteners like rivets and nails are most often chosen for single-use applications, while others are suited for non-permanent use. The following blog is a short explanation of those fasteners which can be a non-permanent option.

As several industries move toward electronification, particularly in regard to vehicles, aerospace engineers have also begun to consider the steps necessary to create an electronic aircraft. There are several benefits to electronification, including reducing operating costs and decreasing the industry's aggregate CO2 emissions, which have remained high despite numerous leaps in technology. There have also been many factors impeding the creation of an electric or hybrid power source. Notwithstanding, aerospace companies have made incredible strides in technology over the past decade, with some beginning to implement hybrid engines in test aircraft. In this blog, we will discuss the limitations and current status of the electronification movement in aviation.     

Aircraft warning lights are high-intensity lighting devices constructed to make tall structures appear more visible at all hours. While there is no definitive standard that defines the minimum requirements for the design and installation of obstruction lighting, a majority of warning lights adhere to similar specifications. In fact, the most common regulations are those set forth by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) and the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).

Aviation is an ever-demanding industry, and to meet its demands, it must uphold speedy development processes, especially in the electromagnetic field. As different types of electrical systems and components in an aircraft are of the electromagnetic variety, their development coincides with providing the aerospace industry with ever-improving components capable of meeting precise requirements.