Fly-by-wire controls set for electric flight

Early flight controls were mechanical and used cables and pulleys to connect the pilot’s yoke and pedals to the aircraft’s controls surfaces. Today, most modern aircraft operate with fly-by-wire controls, which are electronic systems that are lighter and can help save on fuel.

BAE Systems introduced fly-by-wire technology to military aircraft nearly five decades ago with both the F-16 and F-18, which flew with our systems in the mid-1970s. Just a few years later, the company introduced the technology on a commercial aircraft and by 1994, it had designed the first complete commercial fly-by-wire system for the 777. Most recently, its controls have enabled the first flights of the AW-609, B525 Relentless, and 777X.

Overall, the fly-by-wire systems have flown on more than 50 different aircraft and accumulated more than 150 billion flight hours. That means that every second of every day, an aircraft takes off and lands safely because of the flight-critical systems.

Fly-by-wire technology will continue to evolve when the first hybrid and all-electric aircraft take to the skies. These aircraft will require smarter and more integrated controls that are small enough to fit into two-seat air taxis and can scale up to a 400-seat passenger airliner. While electric flight may be a decade away, BAE Systems is working now to define and develop the flight control systems for the future.

BAE has been investing in its core technology to make fly-by-wire systems smaller, lighter, and faster than ever before. Its latest computers send precise commands every few milliseconds to more than 40 electronic controllers distributed throughout the aircraft. The systems are also 40% smaller and lighter than they were just five years ago. In addition, BAE is developing advanced algorithms that will make its flight controls more resilient to cyberattacks.

www.baesystems.com