Design and Development of Aircraft Systems

Ian Moir and Allan Seabridge have provided a straightforward introduction to how aircraft systems are designed and evolved, encompassing the systems approach. The design and development process has been given prominence.

Ian Moir BSc, CEng, FRAeS, FIEE served twenty years in the Royal Air Force as an Engineering Cadet/Officer, retiring with the rank of Squadron Leader. He then went on to work for eighteen years at Smiths Industries, Cheltenham, UK. Here he had responsibilities for the introduction of avionics technology into aircraft utilities systems on both military and civil aircraft. He was Programme Manager for the integrated Utilities Management System on the UK Experimental Aircraft Programme (EAP); and technology demonstrator for the European Fighter Aircraft. Ian's principal successes at Smiths Industries included the selection and development of new integrated systems for the McDonnell Douglas/Boeing AH-64C/D Longbow Apache attack helicopter and Boeing 777 (Queens Award for Technology - 1998), both of which are major production programmes. Ian has over 40 years' experience in the aerospace industry. He is currently an International Aerospace consultant, operating in the areas of aircraft electrical and utilities systems and avionics. Allan Seabridge BA, MPhil is currently the Chief Flight Systems Engineer at BAE Systems, a position held since 1998. Before that he was the Avionics Integrated Product Team Leader on the Nimrod MRA4 programme for five years. He has worked in the aerospace industry for over 30 years in flight systems and avionic systems engineering, business development, and project management. He has been involved in a wide range of military fast jet, trainer, and ground or maritime surveillance aircraft projects. Allan has worked in many international collaborative programmes in Europe and the United States, and he has led a number of national and international engineering teams. This has led to an interest in all aspects of system engineering capability: the practice of engineering, the processes and tools employed, and the people and skills required.