Avionics Glossary

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast; a surveillance technology in which aircraft broadcast GPS-derived position and identification data.

Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet (ARINC 664 Part 7); a deterministic Ethernet network for modern avionics communication.

Attitude and Heading Reference System; provides aircraft attitude (pitch, roll) and heading using gyroscopes, accelerometers, and magnetometers.

A standard for digital data transfer between avionics systems using a unidirectional serial bus protocol.

A system that automatically controls the aircraft's flight path, including attitude, altitude, heading, and speed.

All electronic systems used in aircraft, spacecraft, and satellites, including navigation, communication, flight control, and display systems.

Control Display Unit; the interface panel through which pilots interact with the Flight Management System by entering routes and performance data.

Controlled Flight Into Terrain; an accident in which an airworthy aircraft is unintentionally flown into the ground or an obstacle.

Design Assurance Level; a classification (A through E) in DO-178C and DO-254 indicating the rigor required for software or hardware development based on failure severity.

Distance Measuring Equipment; a radio navigation system measuring slant range distance between aircraft and ground station.

The RTCA standard defining software development assurance processes for airborne systems, used for FAA and EASA certification.

The RTCA standard for design assurance of airborne electronic hardware, ensuring complex programmable hardware meets safety requirements.

Electronic Flight Instrument System; the digital display system in a glass cockpit comprising the PFD and Navigation Display.

Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System; uses GPS and terrain databases to warn pilots of potential terrain collision threats.

Fly-by-Wire; a flight control system using electronic signaling to replace mechanical linkages between pilot controls and control surfaces.

Flight Data Recorder; a crash-survivable device that records aircraft flight parameters for accident investigation.

Flight Management System; a computer system automating navigation, flight planning, and performance optimization.

Global Navigation Satellite System; the umbrella term for satellite-based navigation systems including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou.

Head-Up Display; a transparent display projecting flight data into the pilot's forward field of view.

Instrument Landing System; a precision approach system providing lateral and vertical guidance for landing in low visibility.

Integrated Modular Avionics; an architecture where multiple avionics functions share common computing platforms using partitioned software.

Inertial Navigation System; a self-contained system using accelerometers and gyroscopes to calculate position and orientation.

A military standard for serial data bus communications in avionics, featuring a dual-redundant bus with one controller and up to 31 remote terminals.

Traffic Collision Avoidance System; an airborne system that monitors for nearby aircraft and provides collision avoidance advisories.

VHF Omnidirectional Range; a ground-based radio navigation aid providing bearing information to aircraft in the VHF band.