Avionics Maintenance Course

Lesson 1 • History and Evolution of Avionics

Traces avionics development from early radio navigation to modern glass cockpits. Establishes context for understanding why current systems are designed as they are.

Lesson 2 • Safety Culture in Avionics Maintenance

Establishes human factors principles, error management, and safety reporting as core professional values. Frames safety culture as the foundation of all maintenance activities.

Lesson 3 • Regulatory Framework for Avionics

Introduces airworthiness certification requirements, maintenance documentation standards, and regulatory oversight roles. Connects compliance obligations to daily maintenance practice.

Lesson 4 • Aircraft Electrical Power Fundamentals

Covers DC and AC power generation, distribution buses, and grounding principles. Provides the electrical foundation required for all subsequent avionics topics.

Lesson 1 • Distance Measuring Equipment and ADF

Covers DME interrogator/transponder operation and ADF loop antenna bearing computation. Students verify DME accuracy and troubleshoot ADF bearing errors.

Lesson 2 • VOR and ILS Navigation Systems

Explains VOR bearing computation and ILS localizer/glide slope signal processing. Students perform ground checks and interpret deviation indicator outputs.

Lesson 3 • VHF and HF Communication Systems

Covers VHF and HF transceiver operation, antenna systems, and squelch circuitry. Students test transmitter output power and receiver sensitivity against specifications.

Lesson 4 • GPS and Satellite Navigation Systems

Explains GPS signal acquisition, position computation, and integrity monitoring via RAIM. Students configure GPS receivers and interpret fault annunciations.

Lesson 1 • Gyroscopic Instruments and Principles

Covers rigidity in space, precession, and their application in attitude and heading indicators. Students identify gyro drift errors and perform erection checks.

Lesson 2 • Pitot-Static System Principles

Explains pitot pressure, static pressure, and their roles in airspeed, altitude, and vertical speed measurement. Students trace system plumbing and identify leak sources.

Lesson 3 • Airspeed and Altimeter Instruments

Covers airspeed indicator capsule mechanics, altimeter aneroid stack operation, and encoding altimeter output. Students calibrate instruments against certified test equipment.

Lesson 4 • Pitot-Static System Testing and Certification

Covers regulatory test intervals, test equipment operation, and documentation requirements for pitot-static certification. Students complete a full system test and sign off records.

Lesson 1 • Digital Signal Integrity and Testing

Covers signal integrity concepts including impedance matching, termination, and crosstalk. Students use oscilloscopes and bus analyzers to validate waveform quality.

Lesson 2 • CAN Bus in Avionics Applications

Explains CAN bus arbitration, error frames, and use in cabin and utility system control. Students measure bus voltage levels and identify dominant/recessive bit faults.

Lesson 3 • ARINC 429 Data Bus

Covers ARINC 429 word structure, label coding, transmission rates, and receiver wiring. Students decode bus traffic using a protocol analyzer and identify label errors.

Lesson 4 • MIL-STD-1553 Data Bus

Covers 1553 bus controller, remote terminal, and bus monitor roles with message formats. Students simulate bus transactions and diagnose word count errors.

Lesson 1 • Autopilot System Architecture

Explains single-axis, two-axis, and three-axis autopilot configurations and their control law structures. Students identify system components and signal flow on block diagrams.

Lesson 2 • Autopilot Troubleshooting and Rigging

Applies systematic fault isolation to autopilot oscillation, hardover, and failure-to-engage faults. Students rig servo linkages and document corrective actions.

Lesson 3 • Autopilot Engagement and Disconnect Logic

Covers engagement interlocks, disconnect triggers, and pilot override force requirements. Students test disconnect functions and verify annunciator responses.

Lesson 4 • Servo Motors and Actuators

Covers electric and electro-hydraulic servo types, torque limiting, and slip clutch operation. Students bench-test servos and verify torque output against specifications.

Lesson 1 • Weather Radar Installation and Safety

Explains radome maintenance, waveguide inspection, and RF radiation safety zones. Students perform radome repair assessment and verify safety interlocks.

Lesson 2 • Traffic Collision Avoidance System

Covers TCAS surveillance logic, resolution advisory computation, and coordination with transponders. Students interpret RA maneuver commands and test system responses.

Lesson 3 • System Integration and Annunciation

Covers integration of radar, TCAS, and TAWS outputs on the primary flight display. Students trace signal paths and verify correct annunciation priority.

Lesson 4 • Weather Radar Principles and Components

Covers pulse radar theory, antenna beam geometry, and receiver sensitivity time control. Students identify radar components and explain signal processing steps.

Lesson 1 • Shielding and Grounding for EMC

Covers shield termination methods, ground strap installation, and EMC bonding requirements. Students measure bond resistance and verify shield continuity.

Lesson 2 • Avionics Equipment Mounting and Cooling

Covers rack mounting standards, shock mount selection, and forced-air cooling requirements. Students install an LRU in a rack and verify cooling airflow adequacy.

Lesson 3 • Connector Types and Crimping Techniques

Explains circular, rectangular, and coaxial connector families and proper crimping tool selection. Students crimp and inspect contacts to manufacturer acceptance criteria.

Lesson 4 • Wire Selection and Identification

Covers wire gauge selection, insulation types, and aircraft wire identification standards. Students select correct wire for current load and environmental conditions.

Lesson 1 • Structured Fault Isolation Methods

Covers half-split, symptom-to-system, and signal flow fault isolation strategies. Students apply each method to progressively complex avionics fault scenarios.

Lesson 2 • Built-In Test and Fault Code Analysis

Covers BIT architecture, continuous versus initiated BIT, and fault code retrieval procedures. Students extract and interpret fault codes from avionics line-replaceable units.

Lesson 3 • Maintenance Documentation and Airworthiness Release

Covers work order completion, component traceability, and authorized release certificate requirements. Students complete a full maintenance record package for a simulated avionics repair.

Lesson 4 • Functional and Operational Testing

Explains pre-installation bench tests, post-installation functional checks, and flight test requirements. Students execute a complete functional test sequence and record results.