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Sunday, 20 November 2011

A Guide to Aviation Avionics Jobs

Aviation avionics is a really interesting career to get involved in. Avionics jobs are often overlooked when people are considering engineering as a career but they are really worth looking at because it pays well and is very interesting. This article will give you some information on avionics jobs that are available and what is involved. Aviation Avionics - Avionics Technician
  • As an avionics technician you have to repair, inspect and maintain aircraft.
  • Maintaining the computer systems of aircraft is extremely important particularly the computer systems in the cockpit.
  • Maintaining weather radar, flight control and flight engine control systems is another essential part of an avionics technician’s work.
  • Radio communications are essential and also have to be maintained and repaired by avionics technicians when necessary.
Qualifications and Skills Needed for Aviation Avionics
  • A degree in an avionics related technology is essential to become involved in an aviation avionics career as an avionics technician.
  • If you gain qualifications in computing, electronics, physics and maths these will also be valuable to you when entering aviation avionics.
  • Practical skills are very important if you want to be an avionics technician due to the repair and maintenance aspects of the job.
  • Problem solving skills are also needed, being patient and finding a solution to an issue is what this job is all about.
  • Being hard working and enthusiastic are also qualities you need to appeal to potential employers.
Avionics Jobs - Installation Supervisor
  • As an installation supervisor you will need to oversee a team of avionics technicians and other engineers.
  • Monitoring the work of the team you manage is also a big part of the job as there are strict codes of conduct and industry standards you have to follow in aviation avionics.
  • Understanding blue prints is also essential for an aviation avionics installation supervisor so that you can impellent projects and assess workers performance.
Installation Supervisor - Skills and Qualifications Needed
  • You will have to have all of the qualifications which relate to being an avionics technician and have years of specialist training behind you.
  • An installation supervisor is not an entry level position in aviation avionics so it is important that you have worked for years in the aviation trade before you apply for this type of position.



Avionics Jobs: Component Engineer Job Description

Browsing online for avionics jobs? One of the most popular roles for anybody looking for work within the avionics industry is that of the component engineer.
You'll need a number of skills to become a component engineer, and the job role can vary on a day-to-day basis, so to learn more about this challenging profession, take a moment to consider the information provided below.

Component Engineer: Avionics Jobs Profile

  • A component engineer will need to be educated to a high level in mathematics and the sciences, as these engineers will require the relevant knowledge and expertise provided by these subjects to solve complex technological problems relating to avionics.  A primary function of a component engineer job is, as the name suggests, to design components to remedy an avionics fault.

  • On a day-to-day basis component engineers can expect to evaluate and diagnose engineering problems and produce the relevant components needed to combat an avionics issue. From navigation systems to weather radars and communication systems, an adaptable approach to the job is needed to flourish in this particular environment. However, many avionics employers will look to recruit specialist component engineers concerned with the following types of system - computing, electrical and mechanical.

  • Required skills of this particular job will include an analytical approach to work and an open-mind to new scientific understanding and technical development. Somebody who enjoys problem-solving will gain particular satisfaction from a component engineer job.

  • The working hours of a component engineer tend to be fairly regular, with a standard 37-40 hour working week. On occasion, irregular shifts may be required, although this tends to be a rare occurrence. Salary rates can vary depending on level of experience, although senior component engineers can command around £40,000 a year.

Avionics Jobs Information

avionics jobsAviation avionics is the term given to aviation electronics systems that are needed for all modern aircraft to work. Most vital components of aircraft are powered by avionics, which means that avionics jobs are some of the most important within the aviation industry. If you are looking into avionics technician work, see the following guide for more information. Aviation Avionics Without these systems no flights would be able to operate. This is because aviation avionics are responsible for: •    Communication •    Navigation •    Flight control •    Lighting •    Air pressure •    Many other components Avionics Technician Duties The responsibilities of an avionics technician are crucial to the safety and general operation of a flight. The installation, maintenance and repair of these systems is all carried out by this technician and other similar staff. •    The systems that are already in place on an aircraft must be thoroughly checked and maintained in order to make sure that a flight is safe to take off. This is one of the greatest responsibilities because should the avionics fail, a plane could crash. •    Avionics jobs require work to be carried out in hangars or at production facilities (depending on the type of work). Some technicians work in laboratories. •    Certain avionics jobs are more focussed on a particular area of the field because it is so large. For example, an avionics technician could specialise in oscilloscope review or computerised guidance. People in aviation avionics jobs have skills that can then be used in a range of other jobs. Progress can either be made in aviation or outside of this industry as electronics technicians and engineers.
 
 
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Avionics Jobs: Avionics Technician Salary Guide

Keen on pursuing a career as an avionics technician but harbour some concerns as to the career prospects offered by a job in this particular field? In this article, we take a look at the potential salaries on offer for a prospective avionics technician, from entry level roles all the way through to senior management. Read on to learn more avionics job salaries.

Avionics Jobs: Salary Profile

The average starting salary for an avionics technician is fairly low, at around £15,000 per year. However, anybody considering this particular career path should bear in mind that this job involves plenty of on-the-job learning and training, so with commitment and determination, an avionics technician can begin to earn around £18,000-25,000 a year fairly quickly as avionics industry knowledge builds.
Avionics technicians will earn on average £24,000-30,000 a year after several years in the job. However, pay can increase depending on the hours offered, overtime etc. This career path will not suit someone who enjoys routine, as flexible hours tend to be a pre-requisite. If you are unwilling to work weekends or night shifts, it's perhaps best to set your sights elsewhere.
Finally, a brief consideration for senior managment positions within the aviation avionics industry. It's worth bearing in mind that these posts tend to be few and far between, and will often only be filled by highly-skilled individuals with over 10-15 years of experience in the sector. Senior individuals in an avionics role can earn as much as £40,000+ a year.
Find avionics jobs on Aircraft Engineers

Avionics Jobs: Avionics Technician Work Profile

Interested in pursuing a career as an avionics technician? This demanding job isn't suited to everyone, but if you have a practical approach to work and are willing to flexible hours, avionics jobs can provide a hugely rewarding work environment.
Below, we profile the job and the qualifications and training that are needed to flourish in this particular role.

Avionics Jobs: Avionics Technician Profie

An aviation avionics technician will have three key responsibilities:
  1. To ensure the safety of aircraft equipment

  2. To carry out repairs and maintenance of aircraft systems

  3. To produce new avionics systems as and when required
For the majority of avionics technicians, it's the second task that will take up the majority of the average working day. An avionics technician will need to be versatile, with the ability to switch focus between separate avionics systems without any trouble. Much of the work of an avionics technician will be involved the equipment found in the internal cockpit - all the important functions controlled by the pilots. These include navigation systems, communication systems, weather radars, flight control systems and engine devices.
To work in this environment, you'll need to hold a number of advanced qualifications, ranging from an NVQ in electrical engineering to a BTEC Higher National Diploma, focusing on the specialist area of avionics.
The average salary of an avionics technician starts at around £15,000 a year, although this can rise to around £28,000 after several years in the job. At the very highest level of senior aviation avionics, you could command in excess of £45,000 a year.
Find avionics jobs on Aircraft Engineers

Avionics Jobs: Military Avionics Technician

Searching online for avionics jobs? If you want to pursue a career in this particular field, one of the major employers of avionics technicians in the UK is the British Army. Within a military environment, you will carry out an important role in the maintenance and repair of army aircraft systems. Learn more about military avionics jobs in the guide below.

Military Avionics Jobs: The Right Career Move?

To succeed in an aviation avionics environment, you'll need to be practical in nature with a problem-solving mind, with an obvious for electronics. This particular role involves plenty of work with small components, so dexterity is a key attributed needed to suceed within this career field. To qualify as a military avionics techician requires strong reserves of concentration - as the training and experience needed to reach the level of a fully-fledged technician can be fairly gruelling. However, all that effort will be worthwhile as a career within the army in this sector offers some excellent chances for career advancement.
As this is a military position, the job here can be slightly different to that of regular avionics aviation jobs, as tactical requirements and strategy will constantly change.

Military Avionics Jobs: Job Responsibilities

  • Maintaining, inspecting and repairing aviation systems

  • Carrying out fault diagnosis

  • Monitoring and repairing land-based equipment

  • Working with Guided Weapon Systems

  • Assessing control instruments and communication systems

  • On-the-job training to further military equipment knowledge

Avionics Jobs: What is Avionics?

Fascinated by the idea of a career in the aviation industry? Then you may want to consider a career in avionics. This varied sector is ideal for anybody looking for a job role that involves plenty of practical work and for someone who enjoys a passionate interest in electronics.
Learn more about what avionics involves by reading the guide that follows.

Avionics Jobs: Industry in Profile

Avionics is simply the shortened phrase that is used to desribe any systems relating to aviation electronics. Anybody working in an avionics job will have daily exposure to all electrical and mechanical systems used to ensure aircraft can fly safely.
Electronic systems that need to be maintained and repaired by avionics professionals on a regular basis - these include communications systems, navigation and guidance systems, display systems, flight management systems, weather radars, sensors and indicators and other technical equipment.
The avionics industry really began to develop as a crucial area of aviation in the 1970's, when advanced systems began to emerge on the aviation market. Prior to this, instruments and controls had formed individual systems. Advanced avionics also had an increasingly important role to play in military warfare.
However, it was the boom in consumer flying during the latter half of the 20th industry that explains why avionics jobs are now increasingly important in the aviation industry. As more and more aircraft take to the skies, avionics technicians are always needed to ensure aircraft remain safe to fly. Therefore, anybody aspiring for an avionics role needs to be flexible in terms of their working hours, as shifts can vary depending on flight schedules.
Generally, most avionics equipment can be found in the cockpit. Here, you will find the control, monitoring, communication, navigation, weather radar and anti-collision systems. Major avionics companies producing this equipment include Honeywell, Garmin, Narco and the Thales Group.
Find avionics jobs on Aircraft Engineers

Information on Avionics Jobs

Thinking about a future career in avionics jobs? If you are then this article might give you some useful information. Aviation avionics is an excellent field of work to become involved in, many people choose it because it is interesting, you have the potential to progress into higher positions and you can earn a good salary. It is very important in aviation avionics for you to have extensive training. You will have to gain a degree in an avionics related technology and then go on to get practical experience. The most popular avionics jobs are Avionics Technicians. As an Avionics Technician you have hands on contact with aircraft, repairing and maintaining aircraft systems. If you would like to know a little more about the more specific responsibilities of an Avionics Technician and Avionics Installation Supervisor then read on. Avionics Technician Job Responsibilities
  • Repairing, inspecting and maintaining aircraft.
  • Maintain weather radar systems, flight control systems, radio communications and engine control systems.
  • You will also have to maintain the computer systems in the cockpit.
Avionics Installation Supervisor Job Responsibilities
  • Managing and overseeing a team of avionic engineers.
  • Monitoring the work of the team and making sure all work practices comply with industry standards.
  • Set work schedules and asses the performance of their work force.
  • Read blue prints so that maintenance and repair of components is done correctly.

Avionics Jobs Guide

Are you considering aviation avionics as a career? Many people will consider becoming an avionics technician but not many people know what is involved. This avionics jobs guide will give you some more information on the job responsibilities of being an Avionics Technician and an Avionics Installation Supervisor. Avionics Technician – Aviation Avionics Jobs If you want to have a career in aviation avionics then you should consider becoming an Avionics Technician. To become an Avionics Technician you will need to have a degree in an avionics related technology. Getting qualifications in maths, physics, electronics and computing is also helpful to forward your career in aviation avionics. You will also have to have excellent problem solving skills and be electronically minded. Employers also look for enthusiastic and hard working individuals that are self motivated. Typical job responsibilities of an Avionics Technician Include:
  • Repairing, inspecting and maintaining aircraft.
  • Maintaining the computer systems in the aircraft cockpit.
  • As an Avionics Technician you will have to maintain weather radar systems, flight control systems, engine control systems and radio communications.
Avionics Installation Supervisor – Avionics Jobs If you want to become an Avionics Installation Supervisor then you will find that you need to have many years of specialist training and have worked in aviation avionics for a number of years to gain relevant experience. If you are considering becoming an Avionics Installation Supervisor then you should look for appropriate training courses so that you can become suitably qualified. Job Responsibilities of an Avionics Installation Supervisor:
  • You will have to manage and oversee a team of avionics engineers.
  • An Avionics Installation Supervisor will have to set work schedules, assess performance of workers and implement projects.
  • You will have to read and understand blue prints, so that you can maintain and repair components.
  • You will also have to monitor the work of the team to make sure everything complies with industry and customer standards.
  • A strong knowledge of legal changes is essential if you want to be an Avionics Installation Supervisor.
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A Guide to Avionics Jobs

Are you looking online for avionics jobs? This guide to avionics jobs will give you some information on the job roles and career prospects of an Avionics Technician and Avionics Installation Supervisor. If you would like to learn some more about these jobs then read on. Avionics Jobs – Avionics Installation Supervisor
  • Avionics Installation Supervisor jobs include being responsible for overseeing and managing a team of avionics engineers.
  • Everyday duties for an Avionics Installation Supervisor would include setting work schedules, assessing work performance, implementing important projects, and creating ways of improving avionics technical efficiency.
  • As an Avionics Installation Supervisor you will gave to use experience to read blue prints and maintain and repair components.
  • Compliance is a major part of being an Avionics Installation Supervisor. You will have to ensure that the work of the team you are managing is in accordance to industry standards and customer needs.
  • You will need to have a strong knowledge of legal changes relating to your work.
  • You will have to undergo years of specialist training and have many years of experience before you become an Avionics Installation Supervisor. If you are thinking of entering the profession it is best to look for training courses which are relevant.
Avionics Jobs – Avionics Technician
  • As an Avionics Technician then you will be responsible for carrying out the repairs of the aircraft. You will also have to inspect and maintain all aviation avionics.
  • As an Avionics Technician you will usually find that you specialise in the electronic computer systems in the cockpit.
  • Some avionic systems you will have to maintain as an Avionics Technician are radio communications, weather radar systems, flight control systems and engine control systems.
  • To be an Avionics Technician and develop a career in aviation avionics you will need to have a degree in an avionics related technology.
  • Qualifications in maths, physics, computing and electronics are also valuable if you want to be an Avionics Technician.
  • To be successful at aviation avionics you will need to have good problem solving skills and be electrically inclined. It is also important that you are self motivated and enthusiastic which is what employers are looking for.

Avionics Jobs: Job Description for an Aircraft Avionic Technician

Technician "]Avionics Technician [/caption] As an aircraft avionics technician it would be your responsibility to be one of the workers who inspect, repair and maintain aircraft. Aviation avionics are usually responsible for the internal cockpit related systems. As an avionics technician you spend the majority of your time dealing with electronic systems relating to computer controlled systems. Purpose of Avionics Jobs The purpose of an avionics technician is to inspect and repair avionic systems like radio communications, weather radar systems, engine control systems and flight control systems. Education and Training for Aviation Avionics In order to be able to get avionics jobs you will need to have a degree in avionics related technology and maintenance. You will also have to have qualifications in other related subjects such as maths, physics, chemistry, electronics and computing. Aviation Avionics – Skills Required You will need to be mechanically or electrically inclined to succeed in aviation avionics. Companies will seek self motivated, enthusiastic and hard working people who can solve complex electrical problems. Avionics Technician Salary When starting out an avionics technician will make approximately between £16,000 and £30,000. if you have years of experience then you will find you can earn up to £46,000.

Aviation Safety Management: Common Safety Problems

One of the first issues that will come under scrutiny in terms of aviation safety, both in terms of the general day-to-day running of an airport and in the aftermath of an incident, will be runway safety conditions.
An aviation safety technician will examine whether conditions on the runway pose (or posed) a threat to aircraft safety. For example, there have been many unfortunate incidents of accidents occurring after a flight has taken off with ice or debris on the runway.
An aviation safety expert will also offer considerable advice on meteorological conditions and their potential to impact on safety conditions. Weather conditions on both the ground and above the ground are often the major cause of an accident, and it will be up to an aviation safety official to verify whether an aircraft should have been primed for take off.
Another major part of aviation safety investigation relates to collisions. This area of aviation safety is often a crucial area of study, as this type of accident or incident is so easily avoidable, and is often the result of human error. However, in some cases, aviation safety issues can determine a collision to be a freak accident - such as the 'Miracle on the Hudson' case in 2009, when an aircraft was successfully 'ditched' in the Hudson River after a collision with a flock of geese.
Finally, some aviation safety professionals may focus on in-flight incidents, such as the phenomenom of 'air rage' which can cause safety concerns for both staff and passengers and potential terrorism incidents. In fact, data for the year 2008-2009 shows over 3,500 separate incidents of air rage logged by aviation safety experts.

A Guide to Aviation Safety Jobs

Thinking about aviation safety jobs? If you are but are not sure what is involved then you might find this article on aviation safety useful. Aviation maintenance and aviation safety are two of the most important aspects of the aviation industry. It is absolutely essential that care and attention are given to both in order for the plane and all the passengers to arrive safely at their destination. Rigorous aviation maintenance has to be carried out to make sure that the aircraft is safe to fly. It is the aviation safety and maintenance team which ensure our safety while in the air. If being involved in aviation safety interests you then this guide will give you some more information about the work involved in aviation maintenance and safety. Aviation Safety Jobs – Aviation Safety Inspectors As an aviation safety inspector you will be responsible for the development, administration and inspection of lots of aircraft safety elements. In order to succeed in a position such as this you will need to have the knowledge and skills in manufacture, operation and aviation maintenance. Some of the main responsibilities of this aviation safety job include checking the aircraft is airworthy (this includes checking all the aircraft’s systems.) It is also the responsibility of aviation safety inspectors to look into the competence of aviation staff. This will include checking pilots, technicians and other members of the aviation team. Finally this aviation safety job will involve you checking all safety aspects of equipment and ensuring all procedures are followed as they should be. Working Environment of Aviation Safety Jobs Each position will vary slightly with where and how they work but the following points are guidelines for you to follow on what the job involves.
  • Evaluating mechanics and repair facilities.
  • Ensuring all training programmes are up to scratch.
  • Inspecting the aircraft itself to ensure it is airworthy.
  • Check the maintenance of commercial operators. This includes facilities, staff and equipment.

Airbus Engineering Chief Will Step Down

 
Gerald Weber, the engineering and manufacturing chief of Airbus, is to be replaced by an external manager in March 2011. This changeover should be in time for his replacement to take responsibility for the next big project; the A350 XWB, a midsized jetliner.
Sixty-one year old Weber was hired from the automotive industry in 2007 to bring efficiency to the production model and sort out production problems with the A380 superjumbo.
An Airbus spokesman said that the A380 problems had been resolved and other problems had been addressed during Weber’s time with the company. The spokesman did not name the replacement, but said he would arrive in early 2011 to ensure a smooth transition.

Careers in Aircraft Engineering


1. How to become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer and an Aircraft Fitter


As a licensed aircraft engineer you will need to be in possession of a basic aircraft engineer's licence, at least one type rating for an aircraft, many hours/months/years spent gaining your practical experience, and a company approval to issue a Certificate of Release to Service for an aircraft. It is a highly skilled job and one which can take some years to achieve. View all of our Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer jobs.

Aircraft are signed off by licensed engineers, but their unlicensed and highly skilled colleagues perform a crucial role. Aircraft Mechanics (or Aircraft Fitters) are not certified and will work under the supervision of a certified engineer, but they are highly trained and experienced in the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of aircraft (MRO jobs).

2. Aircraft Maintenance Engineering careers


Aircraft Engineers and Aircraft Mechanics work on a permanent basis as an employee of an airline or MRO organisation. Many more are employed on a contract basis, working for themselves via recruitment businesses that provide staffing services for airlines or MROs.

Aircraft Engineer Contractors tend to earn more money, but do not get the various company benefits or security offered by a permanent job.

Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers will need to prove their skills. As one, you will need a basic licence (for instance a B1 EASA Part 66 licensed aircraft engineer's licence). This will require many months of study (either about aircraft avionics for a B2 licence or airframe & engine for a B1 licence).

This will then need to be followed by further study on a type rating course taken at an approved centre (for instance B747-400 type rating), and then practical experience on type to gain company approvals.

Only once you have all of this can you then become a certified aircraft engineer. Even then, you will need to maintain 'recency' on type in order to continue working on any particular type of aircraft. If you lose recency (ie, you stop working on a type of aircraft for over 2 years), you may be required to take a familiarisation course before you can again be licensed on type. This can vary from one airline to another and the civil aviation authority (country / region) you wish to work within. (See the note at the end with more information about *Aircraft Licence Types.)

3. Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Jobs / Fitter Jobs


Aircraft Fitter Jobs
If you are a fitter you will need to search for Aircraft technicians jobs, aircraft mechanics jobs or aircraft fitters jobs (various terms are used interchangeably). View our Aircraft Technician and Fitter jobs.

Line Maintenance Engineer Jobs
Line Maintenance Engineer jobs will require a certified aircraft engineer to sign aircraft off 'on line'. The checks a line maintenance engineer carries out are light checks and are done during turn-around or overnight. You must have a license and approvals in order to sign a 'Certificate of Release to Service'. See our Licensed Line Maintenance Engineer Jobs.

Base Maintenance Engineer Jobs
Base Maintenance Engineer jobs require a certified aircraft engineer to sign aircraft off. The nature of the work focusses on bigger aircraft maintenance projects (or heavy checks). It usually takes longer than a Line Check. Checks are categorised and a base maintenance engineer's job is typically carrying out C Checks in the hangar over a number of days or weeks. Modifications and installations will also be included as part of a Licensed Base Maintenance Engineer's job.

NOTES

*Aircraft Licence Types
Basic licences are issued by the competent authority. Licence types are, for instance, an EASA Part 66 licence or ICAO licence. Licensed Engineers tend to specialise either in mechanics or avionics. Avionics Engineers (or EASA Part 66 B2 engineers) are able to issue CRS on avionics systems, while Airframe and Engine engineers (or A&C or B1 Licence Engineers) generally sign for all mechanical parts and the engines (they need to be trained on specific engine types too).
Variety is huge but the following are probably the most common aircraft types offering jobs: B777 jobs, B737 jobs, B747 jobs, A330 jobs, A340 jobs, A320 jobs.

4. Aerospace Jobs


Aerospace Design Engineer Jobs and Aircraft Manufacturing Jobs are filled by aerospace engineers skilled in aircraft design using software like DOORS and NASTRAN. Specialisms include Aerospace Design and Stress Engineer jobs, Aerodynamics jobs, Avionics Systems Design Engineer jobs, CATIA Jobs and IT jobs. Aerospace defence jobs, especially, require software specialists.

Monday, 14 November 2011

Design Your Own Plane: With the Proper Lift, Drag, And Fuel Efficiency

Design Your Own Aircraft
Your Mission: Design A Plane With the Proper Lift, Drag, And Fuel Efficiency To Make It From One Landing Strip To Another.


Aviation company GE Aviation has added a simple and yet fun “Design Your Own Plane” game to their website.  In this game you can experiment with different wing, engine and fuselage options to try to build an optimum airplane.  Then, when you think you’ve come up with the perfect plane, click a button and watch it fly.  Or not.  (My first one did not!)

Designing an airplane is not easy. You have to know aerodynamics, physics, and how to balance lift, drag, and engine fuel efficiency so that they all work together. No, designing an airplan is not easy task. Unless you have our little design application, then it's a walk in the park. If a couple of guys in a silent film can do it, surely you can, too. Give it a try!

Design Your Own Aircraft

Do not attempt to design, build, or fly a full-scale aircraft using any data from this game.

Share your experience after your successful Flight:) through commenting.

Spain's First Unmanned Solar Plane is Designed by Aeronautical Engineering Students

Spain's First Unmanned Solar Plane

Students of Terrassa School of Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering (ETSEIAT) of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya BarcelonaTech (UPC) have together designed Spain's first unmanned solar plane – the Solar Endeavour UPC, using a technology developed by them. 
 

The students, Joaquim Creus Prats, Josep Fernández Coll, Carles Felip Aragón, Marta Marimon Mateu, Arnau Pons Lorente, IgnacioPedrosa Lojo, and Xavier Serena Alòs formed the ETSEIAT Trencalòs team.

Solar cells are fixed on to the wings and tail of solar planes. The cells had to be adapted to fit onto the wing’s curved, aerodynamic surface. The monocrystalline silicon used for making solar cells is extremely fragile and tends to break. The cells are normally 0.2 mm thick and the Spanish team built a panel, which along with the protective coating had a total thickness less than 1 mm.

CATUAV provided remote control and telemetry systems, which included GPS navigation, flight-assistance instrumentation and a video camera that provided real-time data to the control station on the ground.

The Solar Endeavour UPC has a cruising speed of 58 km/h with a speed of 90 km/h. It weighs 11.3 kg and has a length of 1.8 m and a wingspan of 5 m. The plane has five batteries that have a capacity of 40 Ah and weigh 2.5 kg. The average motor consumption is 11 A. The motor has a maximum power of 500 W and a cruising motor power of 127 W.

The solar plane flew continuously for 5 h 48 min at the Sedis aero club located in Seu d'Urgell. The solar panels provide over 50% of the power required during peak sunlight hours, while the batteries can supply the power when there is no sunlight source.
  • Solar planes enhance the capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
  • They can fly over the desired areas for days together. 
  • They can be used for scientific missions, communications in isolated areas, traffic control and prevention of forest fires. 
The ETSEIAT Trencalòs project demonstrates the potential of solar planes for civilian applications.

By Cameron Chai
Source: http://www.upc.edu/