FLIGHT CONTROLS

Content

Weeks	Topics
1. Weeks	Control Systems Overview: Aircraft control axes; Primary and secondary flight control surfaces, cockpit controls; General operating methods: direct cable system, aerodynamically boosted cable system, hydraulically operated system, fly-by-wire.
2. Weeks	Direct Cable Control System: System description and principle of operation; Cable and pulley systems, push-pull rod systems and torque tube systems. Aerodynamically Controlled Control System: System description and principle of operation; Aerodynamically controlled aileron system.
3. Weeks	Hydraulically Assisted Control System: System description and principle of operation. Hydraulically Actuated System with Direct Cable Backup: System description and principle of operation. Hydraulically Actuated System with Control Tab Backup: System description and principle of operation.
4. Weeks	Hydraulic Power Operated Systems: System description and principle of operation; Transmission via steel cable, Follow up control; Operation of a mechanically controlled hydraulic actuator and electrically controlled hydraulic actuator.
5. Weeks	Trim Control: Description and use of trim systems; Cockpit controls; Pitch, roll and yaw trimming; Automatic pitch trim; Mach trim; Versine Signal: Description and use of versine signal. Active Load Control: System description and principle of operation.
6. Weeks	Trim Control: Description and use of trim systems; Cockpit controls; Pitch, roll and yaw trimming; Automatic pitch trim; Mach trim; Versine Signal: Description and use of versine signal. Active Load Control: System description and principle of operation.
7. Weeks	High Lift Devices: Description, use and operating principles of flaps and slats; Flap-slat types, trailing edge flaps, leading edge flaps: Movement types: hinge, track carriage and compound; Flap-slat operating system on a large aircraft, system elements and their functions, position monitoring and indication.
8. Weeks	Lift Dump and Speed Brakes: Description, use and principles of operation; roll spoiler operation, speed brake system operation, ground spoiler system operation, cockpit indication.
9. Weeks	Artificial Feel and Centering: Description, use and principle of operation; artificial feel spring, “Q” feel. Torque Limiting: Description, use and principle of operation. Gust Locks: Description, use and principle of operation. Flutter Damping: Description, use and principle of operation; mass balance damping, hydraulic dampers.
10. Weeks	Yaw Damper: System description, use and principle of operation; engine failure compensation, “Dutch Roll” damping: the system and its elements, control mechanism, control loop, yaw damper signal acquisition/generation, rudder control. Rudder Limiter: System description, use and principle of operation.
11. Weeks	Stall Protection Systems: System description, use and principle of operation; Rigging of Cable Operated Flight Controls: Purpose, basic elements, tools and principles.
12. Weeks	Stall Protection Systems: System description, use and principle of operation; Rigging of Cable Operated Flight Controls: Purpose, basic elements, tools and principles.
13. Weeks	Fly by Wire: System description and principle of operation; axes and control surfaces, cockpit controls, computers; pitch, roll and yaw control, speed brake and ground spoilers, surface actuations; Control Laws: normal, alternate, direct.
14. Weeks	Fly by Wire Protections: Load factor limitation, pitch attitude protection, high speed protection, AOA protection, bank angle protection. Operation of a Fly by Wire Actuator: Principle of operation of an aileron actuator and its electro-hydraulic servo valve.