School of Engineering
E231 Avionics Systems (4 Modular Credits)
This document addresses the content related abilities, with reference to the module. Abilities of thinking,
learning, problem solving, teamwork, communication, debating and defending are addressed by the system
wide curricular practices at the institute.
Module Synopsis
This module provides students with the basic understanding of avionics systems and their operating principles.
The topics to be covered include:

Certification of avionics systems;

Radio communications equipment;

Radio navigation aids
o
Self-contained navigation aids such as the Inertial Navigation System (INS) and Ground Positioning
System (GPS);

Warning systems such as the airborne weather radar, Ground Proximity Warning (GPWS); and

Other instrumentation systems
o
Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)
o
Flight Data Recorder (FDR)
o
Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT)
o
Flight Management Computer (FMC)
o
Auto-pilot
o
Electronic Flight Bag (EFB)
For Articulation Purpose Only.
Page 1
School of Engineering
Module Learning Outcomes
Throughout the course, students will learn:
Certification of Avionics Systems

Understand the certification process of avionics equipment

Distinguish the approvals granted to avionics equipment

o
Technical Standard Order (TSO)
o
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC)
Distinguish the difference between design and manufacturing approvals
Radio Theory and Radio Communications Equipment

Recognize the components of a radio wave

Recognize the various frequency bands

Distinguish between
o
Amplitude Modulation (AM)
o
Frequency Modulation (FM)

List the components of a communications system

Describe how radio wave propagates

Define the functions of an aircraft internal communications system

Demonstrate the operation of a typical communications system onboard an aircraft
Radio Navigation Aids

Describe the functions of an Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) and Automatic Direction Finder (ADF)

Understand the operating principle of ADF

Describe the purpose of a VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) Beacon

Describe the operating principle of the VOR beacon

Interpret the airborne equipment display

Describe the purpose of the instrument landing system (ILS)
For Articulation Purpose Only.
Page 2
School of Engineering

Explain the operating principle of localizer, glide slope and marker beacon transmitters.

Interpret cockpit display indications

Describe the function of distance measuring equipment (DME)

Explain the operating principle of DME

Describe the area navigation (RNAV) concept

Describe the advantages of using RNAV in contrast with VOR/DME navigation

Understand the difference between the following modes of RNAV
o
Rho-Theta mode
o
Rho-Rho mode
Radar

Explain the operating principle of primary radar

Demonstrate ability to calculate range of a radar detected object

Explain the operating principle of airborne weather radar

Explain the operating principle of secondary radar

Distinguish between a primary surveillance radar (PSR) and a secondary surveillance radar (SSR)

Describe the components of a SSR

Explain SSR operating principle (interrogation and response)
Warning Systems

Describe the operating principle of the radio altimeter

Define the components of a Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS)

Recognise the 7 GPWS modes

Describe the operating principle of the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)

Define the types of warnings generated by the TCAS
For Articulation Purpose Only.
Page 3
School of Engineering
Self Contained Navigation Systems

Explain the operating principle of the Inertial Navigation System (INS)

Define the functions of the INS

Explain the operating procedures associated with the INS

Explain the operating principle of the satellite navigation systems

Describe the determination of position by the Global Positioning System (GPS)

Explain the operating principle of Differential Global Positioning System
Aircraft Instrumentation

Explain the functions of the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder

Recognise the legal requirements for the design of Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder

Describe the components of Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder

Describe the purpose and function of ELT

Describe the functions of a Flight Management System

List the components in a Flight Management System

Explain the function of the Auto-pilot System

List the capability of the Auto-pilot System

Describe the functionality of the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) system

Distinguish the difference between Class 1, 2, 3 EFB

Explain the operational advantages that the EFB possess
For Articulation Purpose Only.
Page 4
School of Engineering
Module Syllabus
This module aims to provide an understanding of the concepts behind the practical and theoretical applications
of aircraft communication and navigation equipment. By the end of this course, students should be able to:
1. Understand the certification process for avionics equipment
2. Understand the basics of radio theory and radio communications equipment.
3. Know the various radio navigation aids in use today.
4. Understand the basics of Primary and Secondary Radar theory.
5. Understand the operating principles of airborne warning systems.
6. Understand instrumentation systems which enhance flight management.
7. Understand the operating principles of self-contained airborne navigation systems.
8. Understand emergency equipment that assist in accident rescue and investigation.
9. Understand the functionality of the EFB system.
For Articulation Purpose Only.
Page 5
School of Engineering
Module Coverage
Allocated time per day
(One day-One problem PBL pedagogy)
Module Coverage
Discussions in Study
Cluster
Resource gathering
and team work
Formal Lab
Experiment
1. Certification of Avionics Equipment /
Radio Theory and Radio Wave
propagation.
 Understand
the
motivation
for
certification
process
of
avionics
equipment
 Distinguish the approvals granted to
avionics equipment
o Technical Standard Order (TSO)
o Supplemental Type Certificate
(STC)
 Understand the properties of a radio
wave
 Identify and understand the anatomy of
a waveform
 Recognize the various frequency
bands
 Understand Amplitude Modulation (AM)
and Frequency Modulation (FM)
 Identify the components of a
communications system
 Understand
how
radio
wave
propagates
4
2
-
For Articulation Purpose Only.
Page 6
School of Engineering
2. Radio Communications Equipment
 Define the functions of an aircraft
internal communications system
 Demonstrate the operations of a typical
communications system onboard an
aircraft
 Understand the principles of VHF
communications
 Understand the principles of HF
communications
 Understand the operating principles of
Selective Calling (SELCAL)
 Understand the operating principles of
Aircraft communications and
addressing system (ACARS)
3.
Non Directional Beacon (NDB),
Automatic Direction Finder (ADF)
Very High Frequency Omni
Directional Range (VOR)
4
1
1
4
2
-
 Identify the functions of an NDB and
ADF
 Explain the operating principle of ADF
 Understand the types of NDBs
 Describe the ADF cockpit indications
 Describe the limitations of NDBs
 Recognise the purpose of a VOR
Beacon
 Understand VOR radials
 Understand the operating principle of
the VOR beacon
 Interpret the VOR airborne equipment
display
 Describe the operational use of VOR
 Recognise the advantages of VOR
For Articulation Purpose Only.
Page 7
School of Engineering
4. Inertial Navigation System
 Describe the function of an Inertial
Navigation System
 Recognise that the INS operating
principle is based on Newton’s Law of
motion
 Explain the errors arising from improper
platform alignment
 Describe the cockpit components of
INS
 List the advantage/disadvantage of INS
4
2
-
4
2
-
4
2
-
4
2
-
5. Global Navigation Satellite
System
 Describe the components a GPS.
 Explain the operating principle of GPS.
 Describe how position is determined by
GPS.
 List the applications of GPS in aviation.
 Recognise the advantages and
disadvantages of GPS in aviation.
 Explain how Differential GPS improves
accuracy.
6. Radio Altimeter
 Distinguish between height indication
of a pressure altimeter and radio
altimeter.
 Explain the operating principle of pulse
type radio altimeter and a continuous
wave type radio altimeter.
 Describe the setting of Decision Height.
 List the advantages of radio altimeter.
 Recognise the limitations of radio
altimeter.
7. Instrument Landing System
 Describe the purpose of the ILS
 List the ground components of the ILS
 Understand the operating principle of
localiser, glide slope and marker
beacon transmitters.
For Articulation Purpose Only.
Page 8
School of Engineering
 Describe the ILS cockpit display
 Interpret cockpit display indications
 Define the various ILS categories

8. Primary Radar – Airborne
Weather Radar
 Distinguish between the two types of
radars
 Calculate range of radar detected
object
 Explain the operating principle of
airborne weather radar
 Describe microburst and its effects on
aircraft
 Explain how Doppler shift is used for
wind shear detection
 Identify radar safety considerations
4
2
-
4
2
-
4
2
-
9. Primary and Secondary
Surveillance Radar
 Distinguish between a PSR and a SSR
 Describe the components of a SSR
 Explain SSR operating principle
(interrogation and response)
 Recognise the different types of
transponders
 Describe transponder functions
 Identify special transponder codes
 Recognise
the
limitation
of
transponders and the benefit of Mode S
enhancement
10. Distance Measuring Equipment
 Describe the function of DME
 Explain the operating principle of DME
 Calculate slant range using DME
operating principle
 Describe DME frequency settings
 Recognise slant range error exists in
DME
 List the applications of DME
For Articulation Purpose Only.
Page 9
School of Engineering
11. Ground Proximity Warning
System




Recognise the need for a GPWS.
Describe how GPWS generates
List GPWS alerts and indications.
Describe the 7 Modes of GPWS and its
associated flight envelope and alert
indications.
 Recognise the limitations of GPWS.
 Explain the features of EGPWS.
4
2
-
4
2
-
12. Traffic Collision Avoidance
System (TCAS)
 Recognise the purpose of TCAS.
 Differentiate between TCAS I & II
 Describe the operating principle of
TACS
 Differentiate between Traffic Advisories
(TA) and Resolution Advisories (RA)
 Describe TA and RA generation
 Comprehend TCAS cockpit display
 Describe pilot’s response to TAs and
RAs
 State the limitations of TCAS
13. Electronic Flight Bag (EFB)






Describe the motivation for the
emergence of EFB
Identify
the
objectives
of
implementing
EFB
and
the
associated benefits
Explain the 3 different EFB hardware
classes
Explain the 3 different EFB software
types
Identify and explain the functions of
the EFB Back Office
Explain the regulatory requirements
for the different classes of EFB
hardware
For Articulation Purpose Only.
Page 10
School of Engineering
14. Flight Management System (FMS)
Auto Pilot
 Recognise the purpose of FMS
 Describe the main components of FMS.
 Describe the Flight Management
Computer (FMC)
 Recognise the purpose of an Automatic
Flight Control Systems (AFCS)
 Explain the operations of an AFCS
 Describe the tasks undertaken by the
FMS throughout the course of a flight
4
2
-
4
2
-
60
29
1
15. Flight Data Recorder, Cockpit
Voice Recorder & Emergency
Locator
Transmitter
 Identify regulatory requirements for
FDRs and CVRs
 Describe FDR design requirements
 List the parameters recorded by the
FDR and CVR
 Identify the main components of a FDR
 Describe the underwater locater
beacon
 Describe the purpose and function of
ELT
Total = 15 Problems
= 90 hrs
For Articulation Purpose Only.
Page 11