Systems and Technology

Aviation is a huge international industry, concerned with the design, development, construction, and operation of flying aircraft. The modern Aviation industry continues to grow in leaps and bounds in terms of size and innovation, and computer technology is playing a big role in how it defines itself in the new millennium. The world of aviation has changed a lot since the birth of computers and the rise of information technology, in areas as diverse as navigation, air traffic control, manufacture, training, and design. Computers are embedded into every single aspect of the modern aviation industry, and specialised positions have become available that deal exclusively with the manipulation and programming of digital systems.

There are several different areas of the aviation industry, and while they may differ on a number of levels, all have been equally influenced by technology and the digital revolution. The design and construction of aircraft is one field where it is easy to see the influence of computer technology, where computer aided design (CAD) and virtual environments have helped to shape the design and geometry of modern aircraft. Computers have helped to design more powerful and efficient aircraft, that can be tested in a virtual reality environment long before they ever come into existence. Air flow charts, physical laws, and aircraft geometry can all be manipulated easily within a virtual computer environment, making it easier and less expensive for designers to come up with new innovations and alter their plans prior to the expensive process of prototyping and manufacture.

While all of the different arms of the aviation industry are reliant on digital technology, within specialised fields such as military aviation, this reliance is even more wide spread. Military aviation has changed dramatically since the introduction of computers, especially in terms of navigation, targeting, and remote flying. Pilot-less drone aircraft are even being produced by some national military bodies, which can fly and conduct military strikes without any direct human involvement at all. The aviation sector is one that is heavily reliant on technological progress and innovation, a situation which is only likely to increase even more in the future. Whether they are being used to test, control, or analyse; computers and digital technology are integral to aviation and the entire industry that surrounds it.