EMI Effects in Flight Control Systems and Their Mitigations

This chapter focuses on how electromagnetic interference (EMI) can affect flight control systems (FCS). It explores the peculiarities of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing of a safety‐critical system like the FCS. The chapter describes the preventive techniques to keep the FCS meet the requisite EMC requirements, throughout the life cycle of the aircraft. It encompasses military aircraft, commercial airplanes, and unmanned air vehicles. The chapter also explores some of the aircraft crashes caused by EMI in FCS. It provides an overview of fly‐by‐wire (FBW) systems as regards functionality and their constituent elements. In numerous modern‐day aircraft, the FCS forman integral part of flight management system (FMS). The chapter introduces EMC standards relevant to FCS EMC testing. It illustrates the methodologies used for EMC testing of complete aircraft and FCS. The chapter also focuses on factors that enhance the probability of malfunction in the presence of EMI.