The fourth session was held on 7th of Jan. Discussion in this session was mainly on evolution, classification of aircraft, communication between the pilot and ATC(Air Traffic Control) and Instrument landing system (introduction).
Evolution
For many centuries, humans have tried to fly just like the birds. Wings made of feathers or light weight wood has been attached to arms to test their ability to fly. The results were often disastrous as the muscles of the human arms are not like birds and can not move with the strength of a bird. Leonardo Da Vinci made the first studies of flights in 1500.He created ornithopter to show how man could fly. An ornithopter is an aircraft that flies by flapping its wings. The modern day helicopter is based on this concept. Sir George Cayley is one of the most important people in the history of aeronautics. Many consider him the first true scientific aerial investigator and the first person to understand the underlying principles and forces of flight. In 1804 Cayley designed and built a model monoplane glider which flew successfully. The work on gliders was continued by Otto Lilienthal till 1896 prior to the Wright brothers. The Flyer was the first powered aircraft designed and built by the Wright brothers. They flew it four times on December 17, 1903.Flyers are the first sustained and controlled heavier-than-air powered flight. Gliders led directly to the design of the Flyer.
Classification of aircraft
Based on space they operate -The earth’s atmosphere is divided into different layers such as troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere and ionosphere. The aircraft fly only in the first two layers. Aircraft fly at a distance of 12 km (35000 ft) from the surface of the earth. A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft is used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and space tourism. The main characteristic of spacecrafts is it does not require atmospheric support for lift whereas aircraft requires it.
Based on propulsion – Propelled -they driven by powerful engines. Example –airplanes.
Un-propelled -they are driven by wind. They are used in weather monitoring, fun and
entertainment. Example -airships.
Based on crew -Manned –airplanes,
Unmanned –UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), RPV (Remotely Piloted Vehicle).
Based on wings -Fixed-wing aircraft are airplanes in which lift is generated by flapping wings and rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed point. Rotary wings have less speed and used as air ambulances.
Based on the types of the wings -Monoplane, biplane, tri-plane
Based on landing mode -Sea, land, amphibian (both land and water)
Based on engines -propeller, turbofan and turboprop
Based on number of engines –single, twin, multiple
Based on the function
Fighter –light weight (15 kg), high maneuverability, high speed, short runway, advanced avionics, contains weapon aiming weapons. Example – F16
Bomber –heavy weight, low maneuverability, moderate speed, long runway, deep penetration, advanced avionics, predominant bombers with guns
Transport –huge weight, very long runway, carries passengers, sluggish maneuverability
Special types
Reconnaissance, SR71 black bird, AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System), Micro plane, Aerial refueling,
Aircraft carriers (ships with airport and infrastructure), Voyager, Secret aircraft, Nuclear powered aircraft,
Sky cars (A combination of airplane and car motor), Solo flying machine
About the video
The video was shown to us to under the communication and miscommunication between the pilot and ATC.AVIANCA C52 was the flight which was crashed due to miscommunication between pilots and various ATC ’s killing 72 people. Even after two hours extra fuel, the engines were flamed out before the flight could land. AVIANCA C52 did not get a chance to land in John F Kennedy airport because 39 other flights were waiting for landing. This video tells us that how important is communication between pilots, several ATC ’s. AVIANCA C52 was asked to take several holding patterns which reduced the fuel resulting in flaming out the engine. Pilot has to say “I declare emergency” or “mayday” three times to inform the ATC that the condition of the flight is very dangerous.
FMS (Flight Management System) and ILS (Instrument Landing System)
A Flight Management System is a fundamental part of a modern aircraft's avionics. It has ACARS (Aircraft Communication Addressing and Reporting System) which is a complex system consisting of several software modules. An instrument landing system (ILS) is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway using radio frequency waves. An ILS consists of two independent sub-systems, one providing lateral guidance (localizer), the other vertical guidance (glide slope or glide path) to aircraft approaching a runway. Series of ILS antennas are placed on the runway to track landing of flight. Session 4 makes us think about all the problems in landing the flight. That’s all for this session and very eagerly waiting for further session because they are going to more challenging and interesting.
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