Application of enhanced methods for safety assessment of FADEC

the same time, limited resources for development of new solutions in general aviation caused that FADEC technology is still not present in many engine types in current service. General aviation category includes a variety of applications from small aircraft used for fun flying, through agricultural aircraft, up to aircraft used for transport of passengers. These applications may significantly differ with size/design of the aircraft (and requirements on safety), but also with type of flights performed by particular aircraft. Although being initially designed for turbine engines, recently FADEC becomes increasingly popular for use among smaller aircraft with piston engines as well. In this area, manufacturers of piston engines like Continental and Lycoming are increasingly using this technology for their engines. Lycoming uses its iE2 FADEC technology (TO-450, TIO-540-NXT, TSIO-550, TEO-540-A1A engines). Continental uses its PowerLink FADEC (IO-240, IO-360, IO-550, IOF-240, IOF-550, TSIOF-550 engines). Main advantages of FADEC in this area include simplicity of the engine control (pilot can focus more on situational awareness and less on the aircraft control), better diagnostics of problems, and improved performance and efficiency. Similar attention is given to FADECs for diesel reciprocating engines for aviation use. As claimed by Cox [12], prices of FADECs for this application were between $2500 and $7500.