Air Data and Air Data Systems

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Air Data and Air Data Systems

Collinson, R. P. G.

This chapter explains that air data systems provide accurate information on quantities including pressure altitude, vertical speed, calibrated airspeed, true airspeed, Mach number, static air temperature and air density ratio. This information is required by a number of key avionic sub-systems including navigation, flight instruments, flight management and autopilot which enable the pilot to carry out the mission and to fly the aircraft safely.

This chapter covers the following:

Air data information and its use: It is explained that the air data quantities are derived from three basic measurements by sensors connected to probes. These are total (or Pitot) pressure, static pressure and total (or indicated) air temperature. The use of the derived parameters by other aircraft systems is described.

Derivation of air data laws and relationships: This section explains how altitude, air density, Mach number, calibrated airspeed, free airstream temperature and true airspeed are calculated from the basic air data measurements via the use of a ‘standard’ atmosphere model. The text includes a mathematical description of the computation process to derive the output parameters.

Air data sensors and computing: The design of pressure sensors and temperature sensors is described in detail and the importance of achieving a very high accuracy. Finally, a mention is made of angle of incidence sensor design.