All modern airplanes, spacecraft, and artificial satellites employ several electronic systems that carry out various duties related to their purpose and mission. As their prescribed tasks become more sophisticated, so too do their electrical systems; these aircraft electrical systems are referred to as “avionics,” a term combining “aviation” and “electronics.” Often featured in the cockpit of a plane, avionic components are featured in flight control, navigation, communication, fuel, weather radar, and other systems that carry out hundreds of other mission and flight management tasks. In this article, we will discuss some of the central avionic technologies used in aircraft. Read more >>

Across an entire aircraft and the runways it uses, there are too many lights to count, ranging from taxi lights to runway turnoff lights, and more. For a general understanding of what they are used for, the lights on aircraft can be broken down into categories by their colors, functions, and purposes. Throughout a single flight at night, all lights may be used at least once, but at varying stages of flight. For example, taxi lights and runway turnoff lights are typically used when the airplane is on the ground, while anti-collision lights and navigation lights are a must during the whole flight. To help you better distinguish between the different types of lights used by aircraft, this blog will further explore the common groups of lights and their...

While years of research and innovation went into making the first aircraft, early designs, and still current designs, are far from perfect. The aviation industry continues to evolve, making constantly better designs. One major shift in aircraft design was the change in the location of the engine. Aircraft once had engines attached to the nose, above the wings, blended into the wings, and the rear fuselage. Today, most aircraft engines are stored under the wings for better overall performance. Many factors contributed to this shift in design, so this blog will explore the reasoning behind the engine’s new location for your better understanding. Read more >>

With the complexity and extent of aircraft systems, accurately monitoring and responding quickly to developing issues is vital to both flight safety and operational efficiency. The Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) is a centralized, electronic display interface designed for this purpose, delivering real-time data from multiple onboard systems. This blog will explore the essential functions of an EICAS, detailing how it consolidates system parameters, provides alerts, and assists with diagnostics. Read more >>

With the constant demands placed upon general aviation aircraft, it is critical to have a robust ground operations network. With multiple actions needing to be accomplished between flights, owners often look for entities capable of efficiently providing a wide range of services. With the current air transportation model, owners of both private and commercial aircraft have numerous options for ground service operators, but most choose to depend upon a fixed-base operator (FBOs). To provide a better understanding of the role that FBOs play, we will discuss some of the services they offer, as well as the equipment that supports them. Read more >>

The introduction of the turbojet engine brought about a revolution in the operating capabilities of many aircraft. Producing more power, faster speed, and higher fuel efficiency, turbojet engines became the staple for commercial and military aircraft. The turbojet is equally complex as it is impressive, but anybody with an interest in aviation should take the time to understand the fundamentals of these machines. In this blog, we will discuss the operating principle behind turbojets while also highlighting the various forms that may be found in standard aircraft. Read more >>

Whether you are flying a simplistic trainer aircraft or a robust military fighter jet, most modern aircraft rely on the combustion of fuel and air to create the power necessary for flight. Fuel combustion takes place in the engine of the aircraft, making it an essential element for aviation. While there are a diverse set of engines that exist for varying types of planes, most share a standard set of components that work together to make fuel combustion possible. In this blog, we will provide a brief overview of the most common engine components that are found in the aircraft engine. Read more >>

Aircraft engines, particularly turbine and high-performance piston types, often operate at very high rotational speeds to maximize thermal efficiency and power-to-weight ratios. However, when such engines drive propellers, a challenge arises. Propellers are only aerodynamically efficient within a limited RPM range, and if they approach or exceed transonic speeds - typically around 1,100 to 1,150 feet per second at sea level - shock waves can form. This phenomenon, known as compressibility or transonic drag, leads to reduced thrust, increased aerodynamic drag, excessive noise, and elevated mechanical stress on the propeller system. Read more >>

One of the leading reasons aircraft incidents occur in cold weather is due to aircraft icing. Aircraft icing is defined as the coating or deposition of ice on any part of the aircraft, caused by the freezing of liquid hydrometers. Such occurrences make it hard for pilots to efficiently and safely navigate aircraft. Read more >>

In order to carry out safe and efficient flight operations, it is crucial that pilots have the ability to properly track the amount of fuel that is on board. While a vehicle such as an automobile could simply pull off a road and stop in the case that it runs out of fuel, such safe stops are not possible for aircraft due to their airborne operation and average speeds. As aircraft may vary in the amount of fuel tanks they have, the placement of their tanks, and the general design of the fuel system, fuel quantity measurement must be accurate and accommodate for the construction of the aircraft. In this blog, we will discuss fuel quantity indication systems, allowing you to better understand how they are designed and how they function. Read more >>