Aircraft Systems and the Importance of Pilot Training

Aircraft Systems and the Importance of Pilot Training

The operation and maintaining of an aircraft comes with many responsibilities and obligations. This is especially true when running a scheduled airline operating under 14 C.F.R. Part 121. When under these rules, profit margins can be very thin and a manager must be able to lead the airline through some very difficult economic circumstances. Many of these operating procedures can be streamlined through proper pilot training and proper utilization of maintenance personnel and resources while still complying with Federal Aviation Administration rules and regulations.

Proper pilot training of aircraft systems is the first step in helping overall efficiency on line within the operation. Specific aircraft systems cannot be discussed unless the basic operating principles of these systems are fully understood. Although most professional pilots should the basic concepts involved, it might not be the best practice in assuming this. This will help facilitate a deeper depth of understanding and lead to more efficient decisions down the road. For the purposes of the discussion, I will be referring to the basic operations of transport category, turbofan-jet aircraft.

The aircraft’s electrical system is a vital system that powers the electronic components of the aircraft. This is somewhat obvious, but the important distinction is the difference between electronic and mechanical components. Typically, the engine’s accessory section contains the necessary mechanical connections to drive an AC generator converting potential energy into kinetic energy and then into electrical power. This electrical power is then distributed to electrical busses. The busses contain individual components. The system should be designed so that any single bus failure will not render any one system (that is considered essential) completely inoperative. For example the CL-65 (Canadair Regional Jet) has the captain’s side avionics and first...