Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T22:44:56.892Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Single Points of Failure in Complex Aviation Systems of Communication, Navigation and Surveillance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2009

M. J. A. Asbury
Affiliation:
(Civil Aviation Authority)
R. Johannessen
Affiliation:
(Lamboume Navigation Limited)

Abstract

State-of-the-art avionics achieves very good reliability, and the electronics in the current generation of communication and navigation satellites is sufficiently good to allow a design-life of around 10 years. Nevertheless, failures will arise. The purpose of failure analysis is to identify the consequences if a particular module does encounter a failure, and to ensure that, by system redundancy or through operational procedures, the effect and/or its probability of occurrence will be acceptably safe. This paper is a contribution to the discussion on the strength and weakness of redundancy in satellite-based Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) systems as envisaged by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to be an integral part of the future air navigation system. This particular paper makes a comparison with today's terrestrial-based systems.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 1995

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1 Appendix J to the Report on Agenda Item 5, FANS/3-WP/111. ICAO.Google Scholar
2Asbury, M. J. A. and Johannessen, R. (1990). Towards a quantitative assessment of benefits which INS/GPS integration can offer to civil aviation operating in a non-jamming environment. ION January 1990.Google Scholar
3Asbury, M. J. A. and Johannessen, R. (1994). Single points of failure in complex aviation CNS systems and possible options for reducing the exposure to them. ION June 1994.Google Scholar
4International Standards, Recommended Practices and Procedures for Air Navigation Services. Aeronautical Telecommunications, Annex 10, Vol. 1, 4th edition, Section 3.1.4.1.Google Scholar
5 Software considerations in airborne systems and equipment certification. RTCA/EUROCAE document DO-IJ8B/ED-12B, December 1992.Google Scholar
6Hawkes, D. J. (1994). Software design in safety critical systems: the certification challenge. Proc. the Flight Safety Foundation Conference, Amsterdam.Google Scholar
7Tucker, B. G. S. (1993). Boeing 777 primary flight control computer system – philosophy and implementation. Proc. Royal Aeronautical Society Conference, 17 November 1993.Google Scholar