avionics
ay-vee-ON-iks
/ˌeɪviˈɒnɪks/
The electronic systems and equipment used in aviation, spaceflight, and artificial satellites.
Includes navigation, communication, flight control displays, and hundreds of individual sensors.
The story behind the word. Coined in 1949 by Philip J. Klass, an editor at Aviation Week magazine, as a portmanteau of 'aviation' and 'electronics'. It reflected the sudden post-WWII explosion of radar, radio, and electronic navigation systems in aircraft.
Word relationships
- flight electronics: Flight electronics is a descriptive phrase, whereas avionics is the formal, industry-standard portmanteau.
Commonly confused with
- aviation: Aviation is the broad practice of flying aircraft, while avionics refers strictly to the electronic systems inside those aircraft.
Word family
- avionic (adjective): Relating to the electronic systems used in aviation.
Collocations
- avionics suite
- advanced avionics
- avionics technician
Example sentences
- "The fighter jet underwent a mid-life upgrade to replace its outdated analog avionics with a modern glass cockpit." Military aircraft upgrade
- "Redundant avionics systems are critical in space flight to ensure that a single computer failure does not doom the mission." Space shuttle systems
Memory hook
AVIation + electrONICS = AVIONICS. Aviation electronics.
When not to use
Do not use to describe mechanical parts of an aircraft, such as landing gear or hydraulic pumps.
Fun facts
- Modern commercial airliners have multiple independent avionics systems that constantly 'vote' on critical flight decisions to prevent errors.
Related words
Explore more words
Aerospace, sensor, satellite, Navigation, telemetry, cybernetic
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