AER3012 : Avionics, Flight Dynamics and Control
- Inactive for Year: 2026/27
- Module Leader(s): Professor Damian Giaouris
- Lecturer: Dr Matthew Armstrong, Dr Shaheer Zubairi, Professor Peter Clarke, Dr Glynn Atkinson
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module explores how modern aerospace vehicles are guided, stabilised and controlled through the integration of avionics, flight dynamics and automatic flight control systems.
Students will examine how aircraft motion is modelled, how avionics systems support navigation and control, and how flight control laws are designed to improve stability, handling qualities, performance and operational safety. The module considers contemporary technologies such as fly-by-wire systems, integrated modular avionics, sensor fusion, autonomous systems and guidance, navigation and control architectures.
Through analytical modelling, simulation and laboratory-based activities, students will develop the ability to evaluate aircraft behaviour, interpret avionics and flight data, and design integrated control solutions for modern and emerging aerospace platforms.
Outline Of Syllabus
The module will typically cover:
1. Modern avionics architectures, including fly-by-wire systems, integrated modular avionics, networks and redundancy management.
2. Aerospace sensors and data fusion, including air data systems, inertial sensors, GNSS, attitude and heading reference systems, and Kalman filtering.
3. Flight management, navigation, guidance, trajectory optimisation and autonomous or unmanned systems avionics.
4. Avionics software, certification, validation and verification.
5. Six-degree-of-freedom aircraft equations of motion, trim, stability derivatives and aerodynamic coupling effects.
6. Longitudinal and lateral-directional stability, dynamic modes, handling qualities and aircraft response characteristics.
7. Classical and modern flight control design, including stability augmentation, autopilot functions and digital implementation.
8. Guidance, navigation and control integration within aerospace systems.
9. Modelling and simulation of aircraft dynamics, stability and control system performance using tools such as MATLAB and X-Plane.
10. Laboratory investigation of avionics communication, sensor fusion, flight dynamics and flight control system behaviour.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 30:00 | 30:00 | Revision and completion of the exam |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 16:00 | 16:00 | Preparation, data gathering and completion of Report 1 |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | 2 hours per week |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 8 | 2:00 | 16:00 | 2 hour computer lab / flight simulation lab sessions |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | 1 hour guided tutorial sessions |
| Guided Independent Study | Skills practice | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | Flight simulation practice |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 2 | 2:00 | 4:00 | Online “mock” examination (formative) |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 98:00 | 98:00 | Regular personal study throughout teaching period |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Teaching combines formal lectures on theory and system design, guided tutorials for analytical skill development, and laboratory/simulation sessions using aerospace software tools (MATLAB/Simulink, X-Plane).
Students will perform integrated analysis and design tasks simulating the workflow of a flight systems engineer.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 2 | M | 25 | Modelling and simulation assignment analysing aircraft flight dynamics and control behaviour culminating in a technical report evaluating avionics and control integration. 1500 words max |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Examination | 2 | M | 1 hour online practice examination |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Two‑hour written exam assessing theoretical understanding and analytical problem solving.
Modelling and simulation assignment analysing aircraft flight dynamics and control behaviour culminating in a technical report evaluating avionics and control integration.
Online formative assessment giving immediate feedback for examination practice.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- AER3012's Timetable