Solid-state switching for aircraft electric systems

An aircraft electric system designed around a solid-state approach offers many potential advantages over an electromechanical counterpart. These include higher reliability, longer life, more ruggedness, more versatility, and better compatibility. To achieve these advantages, however, it is not merely sufficient to replace electromechanical components with their solid-state equivalents. Here is one approach that has been tested in the laboratory and in aircraft during the past ten years-with success. Included is a report on an advanced system undergoing evaluation.