Aircraft Avionics and Situational Awareness, 5 op

The course introduces basic aircraft sensing and instrumentation to the students, from mechanical systems to more complex computing based sensing and radio navigation systems. Basic indications, electronics moving onto avionic databus, explain the need for multiple computing devices to be able to communicate between the units. The use of Avionic computing in commercial aircraft has introduced new challenges: Situational awareness (SA) in aviation addresses the use of modern technologies in commercial aircraft and their problems. Limitations of human performance is considered (as a mandated EASA discipline) and accident case studies illustrate past events and lessons learned.

Situational Awareness is lastly considered in terms of commercial aircraft control. Finally, the military context using SA combined with technologies to identify all the actors is presented.