UNIT 118: AIRCRAFT FLIGHT SYSTEMS PRINCIPLES

Unit 118:
NQF level 3:

Aircraft Flight Systems Principles

BTEC Nationals

Guided learning hours: 60

Unit abstract
This unit has been designed to provide prospective avionic technicians with some of the underpinning knowledge and skills required to enable them to work on aircraft flight systems. The unit will give learners an understanding of the principles and techniques of servomechanisms, aircraft navigational systems, flight instruments and air data computing. Learners will also gain practical experience of working with a range of aircraft flight systems. The unit has been designed to support the requirements of the avionic knowledge and understanding associated with the National Occupational Standards in Aircraft Engineering Competencies and the new European Directive, Joint Aviation Requirement (JAR-66) category A, module 13. Achievement of this unit will enable learners to demonstrate, in part, the underpinning knowledge and skills needed to meet the armed forces basic training requirements of an avionics technician.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit a learner should: 1 Understand the principles and techniques of servomechanisms 2 3 4 Understand the principles and techniques of aircraft inertial navigation systems Understand the types and principles of aircraft flight instruments Understand the principles and techniques of air data computing

UNIT 118: AIRCRAFT FLIGHT SYSTEMS PRINCIPLES

Unit content

Understand the principles and techniques of servomechanisms Remote position control (RPC) servo-systems: control/indication systems used in aircraft control eg use of Desynn, potentiometers, torque transmitter and receiver, control transmitter and transformer, torque and control differential transmitters, improved RPC and Velodyne systems; compensation techniques eg transient, error rate, integral and error rate; application of digital and analogue techniques to control systems eg servomechanisms, AC/DC analoguedigital hybrid systems Open and closed loop control: principles of open and closed loop systems; principles and techniques used in integrated flight control systems eg autostabilisers, autopilots

Understand the principles and techniques of aircraft inertial navigation systems (INS) Aircraft inertial navigation systems (INS): principles and techniques relating to INS eg sequence, applications of accelerometers and gyros, system misalignment and consequences of misalignment; primary and secondary requirements; advantages and disadvantages of analogue and digital INS, integrators; tilt and accelerometer errors; rate integrating gyro and accelerometer loops; earth and vehicle rates; secant correction; how errors are dealt with in digital systems INS alignment: the techniques employed to maintain IN platform alignment, errors encountered in the IN systems and relevant correction methods, basic system diagram (BSD) of a digital IN system; IN systems performance augmentation using Doppler, GPS, Kalman filter; analogue INS Stage 1 (heaters and course alignment), Stage 2 (fine levelling), Stage 3 (Gyro compassing and fine azimuth alignment); unaided, aided and Kalman Filter systems incorporating global position system (GPS); Doppler integration; digital systems alignment INS platform stabilisation: BSD of a strapdown INS, operating principles and elements of analogue computing systems as used in navigation systems; analogue INS use of 3 and 4 gimbals systems; platform mechanisation (concentrating on the strapdown and laser INS)

UNIT 118: AIRCRAFT FLIGHT SYSTEMS PRINCIPLES

Understand the types and principles of aircraft flight instruments Aircraft instruments: terms eg attitude, heading and navigation, Earth measurement; compass; artificial horizon; turn and slip indicators; interpretation of horizontal situation indicator (HSI); head-up displays (HUD) and glass cockpit instrumentation eg electronic HSI, electronic attitude and direction indicator (EADI), liquid crystal displays (LCD), cathode ray tube (CRT) displays, flight management systems (FMS) Aircraft compass system: compass principles eg errors, corrections, direct and remote indicating compasses; components of a compass system eg horizontality, sensitivity, aperiodicity, variation and deviation, soft and hard iron effects, liquid/direct indicating, gyro magnetic/remote indicating; secondary attitude and heading reference (SAHR); integration of compass system with IN and radio systems Aircraft instrument gyros: type of gyro (angular momentum, horizontal axis, laser gyros); construction eg degrees of freedom, horizontal and vertical spin axis, rate/displacement, ring laser/fibre optic; properties, errors and limitations eg rigidity, torque and precession, topple and gimbals lock, real and apparent wander, gimbals stops, spring and viscous damping, pitching and gyro speed errors

Understand the principles and techniques of air data computing Air data computer (ADC) systems: associated instruments (pressure transducers, total temperature probe, angle of attack indicator, altimeter, Mach meter, rate of climb indicator, air speed indicator); principles of operation eg atmospheric, absolute, differential, static/pitot static and dynamic pressures, Qcodes; interfacing methods eg analogue and digital interfacing with aircraft instruments (ADC and HUD systems, flight guidance and control, main computer, central warning panel (CWP), IN, engine management computers)

UNIT 118: AIRCRAFT FLIGHT SYSTEMS PRINCIPLES

Grading grid

In order to pass this unit, the evidence that the learner presents for assessment needs to demonstrate that they can meet all of the learning outcomes for the unit. The criteria for a pass grade describe the level of achievement required to pass this unit. Grading criteria To achieve a pass grade the evidence must show that the learner is able to: P1 explain the principles and operation of two different remote position control servo-systems used on aircraft explain the function and operation of open and closed loop control in an aircraft remote position control servosystem explain the principles of an aircraft inertial navigation system explain a typical align sequence for an aircrafts inertial navigation system describe the methods used to stabilise an aircrafts inertial navigation platform describe the function and operation of three different aircraft instruments describe the function of an aircrafts compass system and how it is integrated with one other aircraft system explain the principles of operation of an aircraft instrument gyro To achieve a merit grade the evidence must show that, in addition to the pass criteria, the learner is able to: M1 explain the control principles and techniques used in the integrated flight control systems, auto-stabilisers and autopilot for a given aircraft produce and interpret a BSD of a typical IN system explain the function and operating principles, including system interfacing, of three different air data computer system instruments. To achieve a distinction grade the evidence must show that, in addition to the pass and merit criteria, the learner is able to: D1 analyse the methods used to enhance the performance augmentation of typical IN systems read and interpret navigation instrument circuit diagrams and determine the likely cause of two given system defects.

P2

D2

M2 M3

P3 P4 P5 P6 P7

P8

UNIT 118: AIRCRAFT FLIGHT SYSTEMS PRINCIPLES

Grading criteria To achieve a pass grade the evidence must show that the learner is able to: P9 describe the overall function and operation of an aircrafts air data computing system. To achieve a merit grade the evidence must show that, in addition to the pass criteria, the learner is able to: To achieve a distinction grade the evidence must show that, in addition to the pass and merit criteria, the learner is able to:

UNIT 118: AIRCRAFT FLIGHT SYSTEMS PRINCIPLES

Essential guidance for tutors

Delivery strategies The delivery strategy for this unit is likely to consist of a series of planned lectures, demonstrations and practical investigations. These should be designed to provide learners with experience of a wide a range of servomechanisms, aircraft inertial navigation systems, flight instruments and air data computing. Throughout the delivery of the unit, the safety aspects of working with aircraft flight systems should be continually stressed. The content of the unit has been designed to enable learners to work safely and efficiently in an aircraft environment. Delivery should be designed, wherever possible to incorporate classroom study, workshop activities and experience within an aircraft hangar environment on aircraft. The unit has a strong theoretical bias but adopting a hands-on approach wherever possible during the delivery phase will enhance learning. The nature and depth of the practical input will of course be largely dependent on centres resources. Where centre resources are limited or no suitable partnership with industry can be arranged, computer simulation packages (illustrating flight systems and associated maintenance activities) may be utilised. However, simulation should not be used as an alternative where the unit content demands hands-on experience with actual flight instruments. Although the delivery of this unit is likely to require substantial tutor input, learners should also be encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning through guided learning materials that make use of the internet, manufacturers manuals and air publications wherever appropriate. Assessment strategies The assessment of this unit is likely to require at least four assessment instruments, one for each learning outcome. The learning outcomes can be assessed in any order as they are each, very much, stand-alone topics. Centres should consider their preferred order to fit within their own resources and constraints. The following section is intended as guidance on each of the four assessments but should not be taken to imply the order in which they should be assessed. For learning outcome 1, learners need to understand the principles and techniques of servomechanisms. To achieve P1 and P2 they will need sufficient understanding of remote position control associated with servo-systems and open/closed loop control. The timing of both the delivery and assessment of this learning outcome needs to be such that it provides learners with the necessary theoretical knowledge and understanding to enable them to deal with the servo-systems considered in the unit. The assessment instrument for this learning outcome should also be designed to provide an opportunity to work towards M1, which also relates to control principles. Learning outcome 2 should be assessed through either an open assignment or supervised test that covers P3, P4 and P5. The assessment instrument should provide learners with an opportunity to explain the principles of an aircraft inertial navigation system and its align sequence and describe the methods used to

UNIT 118: AIRCRAFT FLIGHT SYSTEMS PRINCIPLES

stabilise the navigation platform. There is also a possibility here to provide an opportunity for learners to work towards M2 and D1. Assessment of learning outcome 3 will need to meet the requirements of P6, P7 and P8. The first of these (P6), requires learners to describe the function and operation of three different aircraft instruments. These can be chosen from the unit content - artificial horizon, turn and slip indicators, horizontal situation indicator (HSI), head-up displays (HUD) and glass cockpit instrumentation. This could be achieved through an open investigative type assignment. P7 specifically covers an aircrafts compass and its integration with other instruments and may be best assessed through a supervised test. P8, which covers aircraft instrument gyro, might also be best assessed through a supervised test. To provide a further hands-on element to the assessment of the topics covered by P7 and P8, learners could be provided with an opportunity to work towards D2. This will enable them to work in a more integrated way with the instruments to read and interpret navigation instrument circuit diagrams and determine the likely cause of two given system defects. The final criterion (P9), which is related to learning outcome 4, is likely to be an investigative open assignment that will enable learners to describe the overall function and operation of a given aircrafts air data computing system. This assignment could also give an opportunity for learners to work towards M3, by explaining the function and operating principles, including system interfacing, of three different air data computer system instruments. It is expected that one of these will be the air data system covered by P9. If this is the case then the function and operating principles of this instrument will already have been covered and need not be done again, the learner will simply be required to explain the system interfacing for this device. Two other air data computer instruments will need to be covered in full.

Links to National Occupational Standards, other BTEC units, other BTEC qualifications and other relevant units and qualifications
This unit links with Unit 5: Electrical and Electronic Principles and Unit 6: Mechanical Principles and Applications and has strong links with Unit 80: Avionic Systems. The unit also links with parts of the JAR-66 syllabi, particularly in respect of the knowledge required by avionic maintenance certifying technicians and those undergoing initial technical training in the armed forces. Further link exist between this unit and some of the fundamental electrical systems knowledge required for the existing NVQ in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering.

Essential resources
It is accepted that apart from JAR-147 approved organisations and specialist training organisations, access to modern aircraft flight and navigation instruments systems and equipment will be severely limited. However, it is suggested that as a basic minimum for successful completion of the unit centres will require access to open and closed remote position control/indicating servo systems, flight control systems, gyros and miscellaneous indicators and instruments. Access to training aircraft or industrial visits would be of tremendous benefit to learners in order to identify system components and carry out rudimentary practical activities in a working context and environment.

UNIT 118: AIRCRAFT FLIGHT SYSTEMS PRINCIPLES

Indicative reading for learners

Collinson, R Introduction to Avionics (Kluwer Academic Press, 2002) ISBN 1402072783 Pallett, E H J Automatic Flight Control (Blackwell Scientific, 1993) ISBN 0632034955 Pallett, E H J Aircraft Instruments and Integrated Systems (Longman, 1992) ISBN 0582086272 Aircraft Publications 101-Series (Military) ATA-100 Series specialist Textbooks (Civil Aviation)

UNIT 118: AIRCRAFT FLIGHT SYSTEMS PRINCIPLES

Key skills

Achievement of key skills is not a requirement of this qualification but it is encouraged. Suggestions of opportunities for the generation of Level 3 key skills evidence are given here. Staff should check that learners have produced all the evidence required by part B of the key skills specifications when assessing this evidence. Learners may need to develop additional evidence elsewhere to fully meet the requirements of the key skills specifications. Communication Level 3 When learners are: researching information on the range of aircraft flight systems and components. preparing reports on the aircraft flight systems and practical work undertaken and presenting the information gathered. They should be able to develop the following key skills evidence: C3.2 Read and synthesise information from at least two documents about the same subject. Each document must be a minimum of 1000 words long. Write two different types of documents each one giving different information about complex subjects. One document must be at least 1000 words long.

C3.3

Information and communication technology Level 3 When learners are:

They should be able to develop the following key skills evidence: ICT3.1 Search for information, using different sources, and multiple search criteria in at least one case. ICT3.2 Enter and develop the information and derive new information. ICT3.3 Present combined information such as text with image, text with number, image with number.

researching and using a variety of different sources to gather information on aircraft flight systems. developing and presenting information for reports on the aircraft flight systems investigated.