Course Title: Avionics Systems

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2011

Course Code: AERO5409

Course Title: Avionics Systems

School: 130T Engineering (TAFE)

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6011 - Advanced Diploma of Engineering (Aerospace)

Course Contact : Steven Bevan

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4137

Course Contact Email:steven.bevan@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Andrew Kim
Location: City, 57.5.20
Telephone: 99254295
Fax: 99258099
Email: andrew.kim@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 40

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

AERO5386 Aircraft Instrument Fundamentals

Course Description

This course aims to provide training to develop the knowledge of Avionics Systems required for employment as a para-professional technician.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VBH158 Avionics Systems


Learning Outcomes


1. Explain fundamental concepts relating to radio communication.
2. Describe the basic operation of radio navigation equipment.
3. Explain the basic operation of associated radio systems.
4. Explain the basic operation of radar fundamentals and systems.
5. Explain the operation of non radio/radar/magnetic navigation equipment.
6. Explain the basic operation of air data computers.
7. Explain the basic operation of flight director systems.
8. Explain the basic operation of automatic flight control systems.
9. Describe the system requirements for flight data recorders (FDR).


Details of Learning Activities

1.1 Explain the difference between sound waves and electromagnetic waves
1.2 Describe the nature of carrier waves (AM and FM)
1.3 Explain the effect of the ionosphere
1.4 Describe the radio communication process
1.5 Describe the aviation radio frequency spectrum

2.1 Explain all of the following:
ADF
VOR (including RMI, Omni bearing and HSI indicators)
ILS
DME
Area navigation
GPS
LORAN

3.1 Explain the operation of all of the following:
Transponders
Radio altimeters
GPWS
TCAS
Stormscope weather mapping system

4.1 Explain the basic operation of:
Radar
Weather radar
Doppler navigation radar

5.1 Explain the operation of:
Inertial Navigation Systems (INS)
Inertial Reference Systems (IRS)

6.1 Explain the basic operation of:
Analog air data computers
Digital air data computers

7.1 Describe ADI and HSI (to block diagram level)
7.2 Interpret information from instruments in 8.1
7.3 Identify typical malfunctions
7.4 Describe basic operation of EFIS
7.5 Interpret information presented

8.1 Explain the basic operation of:
Yaw Dampers
Mach Trim
Automatic pilot
Automatic landing system
Autothrottle system
Flight Management Control System (FMCS)
Fly by Wire system

9.1 Monitor mandatory parameters:
airspeed
magnetic heading
radio transceiver
pressure altitude
time
vertical acceleration
9.2 Describe methods of recording :
electromagnetic recording
trace recording
semiconductor
9.3 Describe the purpose of system components:
encoding panel
signal conditioning unit
data acquisition unit
9.4 Describe the protection and location of an FDR system


Teaching Schedule

Week 1:
What is Avionics and where does it fit in the industry

Week 2:
Radio communications fundamentals
AM and FM Communication Principles
Radio Communication Process and Frequency Spectrum

Week 3:
Radio navigation fundamentals
Radio Navigation Equipment
ADF, VOR, ILS, DME

Week 4:
Radio system operations
GPWS, TCAS, Weather Mapping System

Week 5:
Radar systems and fundamentals
Weather RADAR, Doppler Navigation

Week 6:
Operation of non radio/radar/magnetic navigation equipment
Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), Inertial Reference Systems (IRS)
Air Data Systems

Week 7:
Air data computer operation.
Automatic Flight Control Systems, FMS
Flight Data Recorders

Week 8:
Flight director system operation

Week 9:
Electronic Flight Instrument System

Week 10:
Examination  (Closed book)


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References

Kennedy, George, Electronic Communication Systems, 3rd edition, Kuredijian, G.Z.
McGraw-Hill, Singapore, 1984.

Miller, Gary M, Modern Electronic Communication, 3rd edition, Carnis, Mary, Prentice
Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, USA, 1988.

Powell, J, Aircraft Radio Systems, International Aviation Publishers Inc., Casper
Wyoming, USA, 1981.

Kraus, John D., Antennas, McGraw Hill, Sydney, 1988.

Pallett, E.H.J, Automatic Flight Control, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford,
1987.

EHJ Pallett, 1st Edition , Aircraft Instruments & Integrated Systems, Pearson-Prentice Hall, England

Pallett, E.H.J., Aircraft Instruments, 3rd Edition, Pitman Publishing, London, 1987.

Dale R Cundy, Rick S Brown, “Introduction to Avionics”.

Thomas K. Eismin, Aircraft Electricity and Electronics”, 5th Ed, GLENCOE Aviation Technology Series, McGraw-Hill.

Brian Kendal, “Manual of Avionics”, 3rd Ed, Blockwell Scientific Publication Melbourne Australia.

Max F Henderson, Aircraft Instrument and Avionics.

Jeppensen Sanderson Training Products.Avionics Fundamentals:

Powell Aircraft Radio Systems

Videos available at RMIT Libraries.

Casper Wyo, EA-AIS, 1985, “Aircraft Instrument Systems” ISBN 0891000623


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

To successfully to complete this course the student is required to pass written assessment tasks and demonstrate skills and ability by completing practical tasks to aerospace standards.


Assessment Tasks

Participants are required to complete two assessment tasks. The first assessment tasks is a written assignment. The second assessment is a closed book final examination at the end of the course.

Assessment task 1: Written assignment (40%)

Assessment task 2: FINAL EXAMINATION (60%)


Assessment Matrix

  Learning Outcomes % of Assessment
Assessment 1 1 to 9 40
Assessment 2 1 to 9 60

Course Overview: Access Course Overview