Learn how to create and maintain clear and effective aircraft design manuals, based on industry standards and recommendations.

Adopting a modular approach to document design enables the creation of reusable content components that can be flexibly assembled to address specific aircraft configurations, variants, or subsystems. By modularizing content into discrete building blocks such as chapters, sections, and modules, aerospace organizations can streamline the authoring process, promote content consistency, and facilitate efficient updates and revisions across multiple manual editions and aircraft platforms. I had developed a modular documentation framework for aircraft design manuals, comprising standardized content modules for common subsystems, components, and procedures. By structuring documentation into reusable modules, we maximized content reusability.

What are the best practices for creating and maintaining aircraft design manuals?

Creating and maintaining aircraft design manuals is a crucial task for any aircraft engineer or designer. These manuals document the technical specifications, performance, safety, and maintenance procedures of an aircraft or its components. They also serve as a reference for regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and customer satisfaction. However, writing and updating these manuals can be challenging, especially with the increasing complexity and diversity of aircraft systems and technologies. In this article, we will discuss some of the best practices for creating and maintaining aircraft design manuals, based on industry standards and recommendations.

1 Use a consistent format and style

One of the first steps to create a clear and effective aircraft design manual is to use a consistent format and style throughout the document. This means following a logical structure, using headings and subheadings, applying fonts and colors, and adhering to grammar and punctuation rules. A consistent format and style helps the reader to navigate the manual, find the information they need, and understand the technical content. It also reduces the risk of errors, inconsistencies, and confusion. You can use a template or a style guide to ensure uniformity and quality in your manual.

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2 Follow the relevant standards and regulations

Creating and maintaining aircraft design manuals requires following relevant standards and regulations that apply to the aircraft or its components. These standards and regulations define the minimum requirements for the design, performance, safety, and certification of aircraft and their systems, as well as specifying the format, content, and level of detail of the documentation needed. Common sources for these standards and regulations include the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annexes and Documents, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Regulations and Certification Specifications, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Regulations and Advisory Circulars, the SAE International Aerospace Standards (AS), and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standards. It's important to consult these sources regularly to ensure your manuals are up-to-date with any changes or revisions.

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3 Use clear and concise language

A key factor for creating and maintaining aircraft design manuals is to use clear and concise language that conveys the technical information accurately and effectively. This means avoiding jargon, slang, abbreviations, and acronyms that may confuse or mislead the reader. It also means using simple and direct sentences, active voice, and precise terms and definitions. You should also use diagrams, tables, charts, and illustrations to supplement and clarify the text, and provide captions, labels, and legends for them. You should also use a glossary and a list of references to explain any unfamiliar or specific terms or sources.

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Mark Leevers

Operations Duty Officer, Volunteer SAR Pilot
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Using common everyday language, defining terms and concepts helps keep the user engaged. Using technical language can cause the reader/user to become disengaged. Using diagrams and examples can help clarify processes and the steps to achieving the end result.

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4 Validate and verify the information

Before publishing or distributing your aircraft design manual, you should validate and verify the information included. This requires making sure the information is correct, complete, consistent, and up-to-date, as well as relevant, useful, and appropriate for the intended audience and purpose. You can review technical data and calculations, test procedures and instructions, compare information with other sources and documents, seek feedback from experts and stakeholders, and perform quality checks and audits to validate and verify the information.

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5 Update and maintain the manual

Finally, you should update and maintain your aircraft design manual regularly to reflect any changes or improvements in the aircraft or its components. This means monitoring the performance, feedback, and issues of the aircraft or its systems, and incorporating any modifications, corrections, or enhancements in the manual. It also means reviewing the standards and regulations that apply to your aircraft or its components, and complying with any new or revised requirements. You should also communicate and document any changes or updates in the manual, and distribute them to the relevant parties.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Cmdr (Dr.⁹) Reji Kurien Thomas , FRSA, MLE℠

I Empower Sectors as a Global Tech & Business Transformation Leader| Stephen Hawking Award 2024| Harvard Leader | UK House of Lord's Awardee | Fellow Royal Society | CyberSec | CCISO CISM CCNP-S CEH
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Adopting a modular approach to document design enables the creation of reusable content components that can be flexibly assembled to address specific aircraft configurations, variants, or subsystems. By modularizing content into discrete building blocks such as chapters, sections, and modules, aerospace organizations can streamline the authoring process, promote content consistency, and facilitate efficient updates and revisions across multiple manual editions and aircraft platforms. I had developed a modular documentation framework for aircraft design manuals, comprising standardized content modules for common subsystems, components, and procedures. By structuring documentation into reusable modules, we maximized content reusability.

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Mark Leevers

Operations Duty Officer, Volunteer SAR Pilot
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Logical progression is important, starting with how to set mission profiles progressing through design steps to achieve the conceptual design then load estimation nd detailed design. I have found manuals by Dan Raymer and John Anderson very helpful and easy to follow. For a comprehensive design method, Jan Roskam's manuals are very helpful.

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What are the best practices for creating and maintaining aircraft design manuals?

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1 Use a consistent format and style

2 Follow the relevant standards and regulations

3 Use clear and concise language

4 Validate and verify the information

5 Update and maintain the manual

6 Here’s what else to consider

Aircraft Design

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