The Vital Role of Sensors in Aircraft Engine Monitoring and Control

Abstract

MODERN aircraft engines incorporate numerous sensors for measuring their operating parameters, both in the immediate sense for electronic control of performance and, in the longer term, to monitor engine health. The same or separate sensors may serve these two functions. Many of the control sensors additionally supply signals to cockpit indicators which inform the pilot of the engine condition when adjusting the controls to call for more or less engine power. The sensors are mounted on or inside the engine and consequently experience very severe environmental conditions. The apparent simplicity of some of these sensors belies the considerable expertise that is required to design, manufacture and test them to meet such demanding operating conditions in accordance with the high specification standards set by the aero engine and aviation industries.

Citation

Transducer, S. (1987), "The Vital Role of Sensors in Aircraft Engine Monitoring and Control", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 59 No. 7, pp. 5-28. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb036469