Avionics Course

Lesson 1 • Aircraft Electrical Power Basics

Covers DC and AC power generation, bus architecture, and grounding. Provides the electrical foundation required to understand every avionics subsystem.

Lesson 2 • Introduction to Avionics

Defines avionics scope, historical evolution, and role in flight safety. Anchors all subsequent system studies in a unified functional framework.

Lesson 3 • Avionics System Architecture

Explains federated vs. integrated modular architectures and data bus topologies. Students map signal paths between sensors, processors, and displays.

Lesson 4 • Regulatory and Certification Overview

Introduces airworthiness certification processes, design assurance levels, and documentation standards. Frames the compliance context for all avionics design and maintenance work.

Lesson 1 • Fundamentals of Aircraft Navigation

Reviews dead reckoning, great-circle routing, and coordinate systems. Establishes the geometric and mathematical basis for all electronic navigation systems.

Lesson 2 • Inertial Navigation Systems

Explains accelerometer and gyroscope operation, platform alignment, and error accumulation. Connects inertial sensing to hybrid navigation architectures.

Lesson 3 • Global Navigation Satellite Systems

Details satellite constellation geometry, pseudorange computation, and augmentation systems. Students evaluate GNSS accuracy, integrity, and availability metrics.

Lesson 4 • Area Navigation and Flight Management

Introduces RNAV concepts, required navigation performance, and FMS architecture. Students trace how the FMS integrates multiple sensor inputs into a computed position.

Lesson 1 • Datalink and Digital Communications

Introduces ACARS, ATN, and controller-pilot datalink communications protocols. Students analyse message formats and assess datalink performance metrics.

Lesson 2 • Satellite Communication Systems

Explains geostationary and low-earth-orbit SATCOM architectures, link budgets, and voice and data services. Connects SATCOM to oceanic and remote-area operations.

Lesson 3 • Audio Integration and Interphone Systems

Covers audio management units, crew interphone, and passenger address integration. Students trace audio signal routing and diagnose common audio faults.

Lesson 4 • VHF and HF Communication Systems

Covers VHF transceiver architecture, squelch, and SELCAL, plus HF ionospheric propagation. Students perform frequency selection and signal quality assessments.

Lesson 1 • Airborne Weather Radar

Covers magnetron and solid-state transmitters, antenna tilt management, and precipitation interpretation. Students optimise radar settings for hazard detection.

Lesson 2 • Radar Fundamentals

Explains pulse radar principles, range and bearing measurement, and radar equation parameters. Establishes the physics foundation for weather and surveillance radar study.

Lesson 3 • Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast

Covers ADS-B Out and In architecture, 1090ES and UAT data links, and performance requirements. Students assess ADS-B data quality and integration with traffic displays.

Lesson 4 • Traffic Collision Avoidance System

Explains TCAS II threat logic, resolution advisory generation, and coordination between aircraft. Students analyse RA scenarios and crew response requirements.

Lesson 1 • Instrument Calibration and Error Analysis

Introduces position error correction, instrument error budgets, and calibration procedures. Students apply correction factors and document calibration results.

Lesson 2 • Pitot-Static System Fundamentals

Covers pitot tube and static port design, pressure measurement, and system leak testing. Connects raw pressure sensing to computed airspeed and altitude outputs.

Lesson 3 • Gyroscopic Attitude Instruments

Reviews gyroscope rigidity and precession, attitude indicator operation, and erection systems. Students distinguish between mechanical and laser gyro technologies.

Lesson 4 • Air Data and Inertial Reference Units

Covers ADIRU integration, data voting logic, and fault annunciation. Students trace how blended air data and inertial data feed flight management and autopilot systems.

Lesson 1 • Fly-by-Wire Flight Control Architecture

Details FBW signal paths, flight control computers, and control law categories. Students compare normal, alternate, and direct law behaviours and their operational implications.

Lesson 2 • Autopilot Troubleshooting and Testing

Covers built-in test equipment, fault isolation procedures, and ground functional testing. Students apply systematic diagnostic methods to resolve autopilot discrepancies.

Lesson 3 • Automatic Flight Control Fundamentals

Introduces closed-loop control theory, PID controllers, and servo actuator operation. Establishes the control-theory foundation for all autopilot mode analysis.

Lesson 4 • Autopilot Modes and Engagement Logic

Covers heading, altitude, vertical speed, and approach modes, plus engagement and disengagement logic. Students trace mode transitions and identify annunciation sequences.

Lesson 1 • Head-Up Display Systems

Introduces HUD combiner optics, symbol generation, and conformal symbology alignment. Students evaluate HUD performance criteria and operational approval requirements.

Lesson 2 • Avionics Data Bus Integration

Details ARINC 429, ARINC 664, and MIL-STD-1553 bus protocols and their integration roles. Students analyse bus loading, timing, and fault containment strategies.

Lesson 3 • Primary Flight and Navigation Displays

Explains PFD and ND symbology standards, declutter logic, and failure flag presentation. Students interpret display formats and identify abnormal indications.

Lesson 4 • Engine and Systems Display Integration

Covers EICAS and ECAM architectures, parameter prioritisation, and crew alerting system logic. Students trace how system data flows from sensors to crew alert messages.

Lesson 1 • System Performance Verification

Introduces performance metrics, flight test data analysis, and continued airworthiness monitoring. Students evaluate whether integrated systems meet operational performance standards.

Lesson 2 • Avionics Integration Testing

Explains bench testing, aircraft-level integration tests, and acceptance test procedures. Students plan and execute test sequences that verify cross-system data integrity.

Lesson 3 • Software and Database Management

Covers avionics software part numbering, load verification, and navigation database update cycles. Students perform controlled software loads and validate post-load system behaviour.

Lesson 4 • Centralised Maintenance Systems

Covers onboard maintenance computer architecture, fault code interpretation, and ground support interface. Students retrieve and analyse fault data to prioritise corrective actions.