EGB243 Aircraft Systems and Flight

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

This is a foundational aerospace engineering unit addressing the aerodynamic principles of flight, aircraft systems and the airspace environment in which aircraft operate. The unit covers basic aerostatics, aerodynamics and equations of motion to gain a technical appreciation for how aircraft fly. Core aircraft systems including navigation, surveillance, guidance and control system are covered, linking their functionality and importance to air traffic management and air safety aspects of the airspace. These topics are delivered in conjunction with multiple problem solving tasks, providing you with both the technical knowledge and high level picture of how aircraft are able to operate in the world today.
This is second year engineering unit and the knowledge and problem solving skills developed in this unit are relevant to aerospace and electrical, electrical and mechatronics majors.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Apply, model, and justify the concepts and mathematical equations of the aerodynamic principles of flight at a developed level
2. Communicate professionally the behaviour, technical characteristics and interactions of the systems in an aircraft at a developed level.
3. Determine and analyse the key elements of the airspace environment in which aircraft operate including supporting systems at an introductory level.
4. Reflect on your professional learning of aerospace engineering in relation to foundational level Engineers Australia competencies at an introductory level.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit engages you in learning through one (1) pre-recorded lecture, two (2) hour face-to-face Q&A sessions per week, accompanied by one (1) hour tutorial session where you engage in problem-solving tasks and two (2) hour computer laboratory sessions. There will also be one three (3) hour aerodynamics practical laboratory exercise where you participate in collecting experimental data to support content delivered in lectures and your assessment items. The lectures, tutorials and labs will be a mix of theory-based and inquiry-based learning experiences delivered in the classroom and online facilitated by academic staff. You will have opportunities for real-world learning experiences through access to a real flight simulator and aerodynamic testing data for use in problem-solving tasks. You will reflect on your practical and teamwork experiences and document your developing professional engineering competencies.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:

• Regular interaction with academics in the weekly collaborative learning sessions
• Weekly consultation opportunities with the Unit Coordinator
• Comments on formative and summative assessment work in addition to marking criteria
• Generic comments back to the cohort via QUT Canvas
• Feedback from peers within your collaborative learning sessions

Assessment

Overview

Your learning will be assessed through elements of formative and summative assessment. The practical application elements of the unit gained through the computer laboratory exercises and real-world learning opportunities will be assessed through one two-part problem-solving task weighted at 60%. The task will be assessed as a group and as an individual, and it will include a technical report and a reflection task as a deliverable. It will require the use of QUT's flight simulator and wind tunnel data. As a 'trainee' professional engineer, you will demonstrate and document your awareness of your developing engineering competencies via a reflection task incorporated into the second part of the problem-solving task. The task requires you to reflect on unit learning materials and identify and explore key engineering competencies that would help you further your professional skills as an engineer. 

The theoretical and general knowledge elements of the unit will be assessed through a final exam (40%).   

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Problem Solving Task

Groups are required to submit a report outlining their solution to key tasks, showcasing their understanding of aerodynamics, aircraft motion and flight simulation. This assessment will contain an individual component described in the assignment instructions.

The first part of the assignment is worth 25% of the overall grade (15% as a group and 10% as an individual) and is due in Week 7. The group component focuses on aerodynamics, equations of motion and flight simulation. Students will analyse aerofoil design and performance using both experimental data collected from a wind tunnel and theoretical data from simulations. Individually, students will conduct independent research to address the design implications of different motion models and airfoil designs.

The second part of the assignment is worth 35% of the overall grade (25% as a group and 10% as an individual) and focuses on aircraft systems, aircraft motion/manoeuvres, and includes a reflection task on EA stage 1 competencies. This assessment is due in Week 13.  The group component will reuse knowledge about motion and aircraft performance acquired from the first part, and the QUT’s flight simulator to conduct and analyse a series of flights using their own developed software while considering the airspace environment. Individually, students will reflect on their acquired EA stage 1 engineering competencies during the unit.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Examination (written)

A written invigilated examination will assess your understanding of aerodynamic principles of flight, aircraft systems, airspace environment, and basic aviation operations.

“On-Campus invigilated Exam. If campus access is restricted at the time of the central examination period/due date, an alternative, which may be a timed online assessment, will be offered. Individual students whose circumstances prevent their attendance on campus will be provided with an alternative assessment approach.”

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Software

MATLAB

Risk Assessment Statement

You will undertake teaching activities in the traditional collaborative learning spaces and lecture theatres. As such, the QUT General Safety Induction provides the appropriate preparation for these components of the unit.

From time to time, you may undertake laboratory work and visit specialist research facilities within QUT. You will be provided with the appropriate safety induction for these activities.

Failure to complete and satisfy the requirements of the safety induction for any activity will deny you access to that activity.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineer

1: Knowledge and Skill Base

1. 
   Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Examination (written)
2. 
   Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Examination (written)
3. 
   Relates to: Examination (written)
4. 
   Relates to: Examination (written)

2: Engineering Application Ability

1. 
   Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Examination (written)
2. 
   Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Examination (written)
3. 
   Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Examination (written)

3: Professional and Personal Attributes

1. 
   Relates to: Problem Solving Task
2. 
   Relates to: Problem Solving Task

Course Learning Outcomes

EN01 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

1. Display leadership, creativity, and initiative in both self-directed and collaborative contexts of professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: ULO4
2. Manage projects to solve complex engineering problems, using appropriate information, engineering methods, and technologies.
   Relates to: ULO2, Problem Solving Task, Examination (written)
3. Demonstrate coherent knowledge and skills of physical, mathematical, statistical, computer, and information sciences that are fundamental to professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: ULO1, Problem Solving Task, Examination (written)
4. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of one engineering discipline, its research directions, and its application in contemporary professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: ULO3, Examination (written)

EV01 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

1. Manage projects to solve complex engineering problems, using appropriate information, engineering methods, and technologies.
   Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Examination (written)
2. Demonstrate coherent knowledge and skills of physical, mathematical, statistical, computer, and information sciences that are fundamental to professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Problem Solving Task, Examination (written)
3. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of one engineering discipline, its research directions, and its application in contemporary professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Examination (written)