Avionics

Planes use tools to fly.

These tools are called avionics. They use electricity to work.

Some tools help pilots talk to people. Other tools help pilots find their way. These tools help keep everyone safe.

One tool is called radar. It helps planes see where they are. Another tool is an autopilot. It helps a plane fly in a steady line.

In a glass cockpit, pilots see screens.

These screens show lots of info. This is easier than using old dials.

These tools act like a brain. They help the plane fly well.

Planes use many electronic tools to fly. We call these tools avionics. The word comes from combining "aviation" and "electronics."

These tools help with many jobs. They help pilots talk to others. They help pilots find their way. Some tools even help fly the plane.

Long ago, pilots used radios to send Morse code. They had to use a telegraph key. Later, new parts made voice radio possible. This let one pilot talk while flying. In the 1930s, people made radar. Radar is a tool that helps planes see.

Today, many planes have a glass cockpit. This means they use computer screens. These screens replace old dials and gauges. They give the pilot a clear view.

Some planes also use an autopilot. An autopilot is a system that helps fly the plane steadily. This was first used to help bombers hit targets. Now, these systems help reduce the pilot's work. They help keep flying safe and smooth.

Avionics are the electronic systems used to run an aircraft. The word is a mix of "aviation" and "electronics."

These tools help with many different jobs. They allow pilots to talk to people on the ground. They help planes find their way through the sky. Some systems manage many other parts of the plane at once. These tools can be very simple, like a searchlight. They can also be very complex, like systems used for early warning.

These systems work in many different ways. Communication tools use radio waves to send voices or data. Navigation tools find a plane's position using satellites or ground signals. Some systems use GPS to show a map on a screen. This helps the crew see exactly where they are. Flight control systems, called fly-by-wire, use electronics to move parts of the plane. This is a modern way to make flying safer.

People have been working on these tools for a long time. The first radios were used in zeppelins before World War I. In 1910, the U.S. Navy made the first radio transmission from a plane. These early radios used Morse code to send messages. A second person had to sit in the plane to tap out the code. In 1917, new vacuum tubes made voice radio possible for a single pilot. Later, in the 1930s, nations developed radar for air defense.

Modern avionics are very expensive and important. For a military plane like the F-15E, about 20 percent of the budget goes to avionics. Many modern helicopters spend 60 percent of their budget on these systems. In 2017, companies sold $1.73 billion in avionics for business planes. Most of these sales happened in North America. Many of these tools are new parts added to old planes. Others are installed when a plane is first built.

You can see how much has changed by looking at a cockpit. Old planes had hundreds of tiny dials and gauges. Modern planes often have a glass cockpit. This means they use computer screens instead of old dials.

These screens give pilots a clear view of everything. Some planes even have an autopilot to help fly steadily. This was first used to help bomber planes hit targets from high up. Now, these systems help make every flight safer and smoother.

Avionics refers to the electronic systems used to operate an aircraft. The term is a portmanteau, or a blend, of the words "aviation" and "electronics."

These systems are essential for modern flight. They manage communication, navigation, and the display of many different flight data points. Avionics can range from a simple searchlight on a police helicopter to highly complex tactical systems.

They are the "brains" that allow a pilot to understand and control a machine in a three-dimensional environment.

These systems function through several distinct categories of technology. Communication systems allow the flight deck to talk to ground control or other aircraft. They often use Very High Frequency (VHF) radio waves between 118.000 MHz and 136.975 MHz. Navigation systems determine the aircraft's position and direction. Some use satellite-based Global Positioning Systems (GPS), while others use ground-based radio signals like VOR or LORAN. Monitoring systems keep track of the aircraft's health and weather conditions. Finally, flight control systems, such as fly-by-wire, use electronic signals to move the plane's surfaces.

The history of avionics is a timeline of rapid technological leaps. Before World War I, radio was used in zeppelins, but military interest drove the creation of lighter sets for biplanes. In August 1910, the U.S. Navy conducted the first experimental radio transmission from an airplane. These early systems used radiotelegraphy and Morse code. Because of this, a two-seat aircraft was required so a second crewman could operate the telegraph key. In 1917, the invention of the triode vacuum tube allowed for amplitude modulation. This meant a single pilot could use voice radio while flying.

Many modern technologies grew out of the needs of World War II. Radar was developed in secret during the 1930s as an air defense system. In 1940, the Tizard Mission saw Britain share magnetron vacuum tube technology with the U.S. This sharing significantly shortened the war. Autopilot systems also emerged during this era. They were originally designed to help bomber planes fly steadily at high altitudes to hit precise targets. In fact, early military versions were so specialized that engineers sometimes sat in the back seat with bolt cutters to disconnect them in emergencies.

Today, avionics represent a massive portion of aircraft costs. For military jets like the F-15E or the retired F-14, avionics account for roughly 20 percent of the budget. The investment is even higher in helicopters, where avionics can make up 60 percent of the total cost. The civilian market is also growing rapidly. In the first three quarters of 2017, avionics sales in business and general aviation reached $1.73 billion. This represented a 4.1 percent yearly improvement. A large portion of this, 73.5 percent, came from North America.

One of the most visible changes in aviation is the shift to the "glass cockpit." In the 1970s, cathode ray tube (CRT) screens began replacing old electromechanical gauges. Before this, an average aircraft might have more than 100 different instruments and dials. Modern glass cockpits use large computer monitors to provide a centralized view of flight data. The Gulfstream G-IV private jet was one of the first to use a glass cockpit in 1985. This change helps pilots manage information more efficiently without being overwhelmed by hundreds of separate dials.

Avionics also drive global modernization projects like the FAA's NextGen in the U.S. and SESAR in Europe. These initiatives aim to improve how planes move through crowded airspaces. They focus on areas like negotiated trajectories, which use data communications to create better routes. They also look at "delegated separation" to improve situational awareness on the ground and in the air. By using advanced satellite-based navigation and automated systems, avionics make the entire global air traffic management process more efficient and safer for everyone.