Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE AET3001

 
TITLE Advanced Aircraft and Systems

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 6

 
DEPARTMENT Institute of Aerospace Technologies

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit covers the theoretical knowledge related to aircraft structures and systems, as required for Commercial Pilot and Air Transport Pilot Licenses (approved by EASA or similar):

The Airframe:
Principles of loads and stresses; flutter and aeroelasticity; fatigue; corrosion; aerospace materials;
Construction and attachment methods; the fuselage, landing gear, doors, windshield and windows;
Flight control design, structural components, structural limitations.

Landing gear:
Types, components, warnings, emergency extension systems; nosewheel steering design and operation; brakes – types and materials; system components design operation indications and warnings; anti-skid systems; autobrake systems; wheels, rims and tyres – types structural components and materials, operational limitations, thermal plugs.

Hydraulic systems:
Basic principles and systems; hydraulic fluids – types, characteristics and limitations; system components – design operation, degraded modes of operations, indications and warnings.

Flight controls:
Primary and secondary types; manual and powered controls; system components, design, operation, indications and warnings; degraded modes of operation and jamming; Fly-by-wire control systems.

Pneumatic systems:
Types, system components, design and operation; degraded operation, indications and warnings; Bleed air supply and piston-engine air supply.

Pressurisation and air conditioning systems:
Types, system components, design and operation; degraded operation, indications and warnings.

Anti-icing and de-icing systems:
Types, design, operation and indications and warnings, operational limitations. Ice warning systems – types, operation and indications.

Fuel Systems:
Fuel types, characteristics and limitations; Fuel system design, operation, components and indications.

Electric systems:
DC and AC fundamentals; permanent magnets and electromagnetism; semiconductors and logic circuits; Circuit breakers; the effects of static electricity; batteries – types, characteristics and limitations; Electric motors – operating principles and components.

Power generation and distribution:
DC and AC generation; constant speed drives and integrated drive generator systems; distribution systems – concepts; AC and DC distribution; Electrical load management and monitoring systems: automatic generator san bus switching during normal and failure operations; indications and warnings.

Piston and Turbine engines:
Basic principles; Types, basic principles, major components and operation; Fuel pumps and fuel metering systems; Icing effects. Cooling systems – design, operations, indications and warnings; Lubrication systems - design, operation, indications and warnings; characteristics and limitations of lubricants; Ignition circuits – design and operation; Mixture control – characteristic mixtures, control and indicator systems; Engine performance and handling; Turbine engine inlet and exhaust design; foreign object damage; engine auxiliary gearbox; engine starting and reverse thrust; Engine operation and monitoring; starting malfunctions; re-light envelope.

The propeller:
Constant speed propeller design, operation and system components; warnings and indicators; Propeller handling; reduction gearing.

Auxiliary power unit:
Design, operation, functions and operational limitations.

Protection and detection systems:
Types, design, operation, indications and warnings. Smoke detection, fire detection and extinguishing (engine and cargo), rain protection systems; Oxygen systems.

Aircraft sensors and instruments:
Pressure, temperature, fuel, fuel flow, tacho, thrust, torque and air data measurement; navigation measurements and primary flight instruments; the air data computer; system errors and accuracy.

Automatic flight control systems:
Basic principles and control loops; autopilot design and operation; flight director design and operation; the flight mode annunciator; autoland design and operation.

Trim systems:
Design and operation; flight envelope protection; autothrust control systems.

Communication systems:
Basic principles of operation; system architecture, design and operation.

Future air navigation systems (FANS):
Basic concepts.

The Flight Management System:
Design, navigation database, aircraft database; operations and limitations; the human-machine interface.

Alerting systems:
Flight warning, stall warning and protection, overspeed warning, take-off warning, altitude alert systems, radio altimetry, TAWS (GPWS/EGPWS) design, operation and indication; ACAS (TCAS II) design, operation and indication; overspeed alerting.

Integrated instruments:
Electronic displays: design and limitations; the Primary Flight and Navigation displays. Engine indication, aircraft system and crew warning display systems. The Electronic Flight Bag; maintenance, monitoring and recording systems;
Cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders.

Study-unit Aims:

The study-unit aims to cover the structure and design of modern advanced aircraft (such as jet transports) and their systems.
It aims to give a fundamental and operational understanding of the airframe and flight controls, as well as all the systems typically found on large aircraft.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Describe the design and construction of the airframe;
- Explain the principle of operation and performance of powerplants;
- Describe the principle of operation of aircraft systems;
- Explain the design, operation and performance of aircraft systems.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able:

- To apply theoretical knowledge to operate an aircraft within its structural limitations;
- To apply theoretical knowledge in the operation and control of powerplants;
- To apply theoretical knowledge in the operation and control of different aircraft systems;
- To apply theoretical knowledge in the operation of radio and surveillance avionics systems;
- To apply theoretical knowledge in the operation of flight management systems.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main texts:
- EASA ATPL Training - Airframe & Systems, Jeppesen, ISBN: 978-0-88487-597-0.
- CAE Oxford Aviation Academy Volume 2 - Airframes & Systems, CAE Oxford Aviation Academy.
- EASA ATPL Training - Electrics, Jeppesen, ISBN: 978-0-88487-598-7.
- CAE Oxford Aviation Academy Volume 3 - Electrics & Electronics, CAE Oxford Aviation Academy.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Online Learning

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment 20%
Examination (2 Hours) 80%

 
LECTURER/S

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit