Systems Engineering for Commercial Aircraft

ABSTRACT The application of systems engineering (SE) to commercial aircraft presents a set of requirements and processes unique to the commercial aircraft industry. SE can be applied to new, derivative, and change‐based aircraft design. The concept of an aircraft system extends beyond the aircraft itself. The hierarchy of the aircraft architecture is embedded in present‐day processes. Aircraft life‐cycle functions follow the classical life‐cycle functions. The aircraft‐level functions can be flowed to aircraft and subsystem level functions and requirements. Requirements which receive more attention than others include performance, safety, cost, reliability, and weight, not necessarily in that order. Economic requirements include both market‐driven and particular customer requirements. Certification guidelines for the aircraft, including its software, incorporate SE principles. Strong SE management is required for the successful development of commercial aircraft. This paper is based on the author's book Systems Engineering for Commercial Aircraft (1997).