Flugsysteme

Flugsysteme is a German-language term broadly used to describe the collection of systems and subsystems that enable and support flight in aircraft and other airborne vehicles. As a technical concept it encompasses mechanical, electrical and software components responsible for propulsion, guidance, navigation, flight control, communication, sensing, environmental control and safety functions. The term is applied in civil aviation, military aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and spacecraft interfaces.

In engineering practice, Flugsysteme are designed and integrated according to systems engineering principles. Key elements include avionics (instrumentation, navigation and communications), propulsion systems (engines and fuel systems), flight control systems (manual, fly-by-wire or autonomous control laws), landing gear and braking, electrical power distribution, environmental control and life support, and mission-specific payloads. Reliability, redundancy and fault tolerance are central design goals because failures can jeopardize safety.

Regulation and certification are important aspects of Flugsysteme development; authorities such as EASA and FAA set standards for performance, testing and airworthiness. Modern trends affecting Flugsysteme include digitalization, integrated modular avionics, increased autonomy in unmanned systems, electrification and use of simulation and digital twins for verification. The multidisciplinary nature of Flugsysteme requires collaboration among aerospace engineers, software developers, human factors specialists and regulatory bodies to ensure safe, efficient and certified operation.