ECEA - Electric Control of Electric Aicraft

Important results from the project

The aim for the ECEA project, short for Elektrisk Styrning av Elflygplan, was to develop a test bench for a fly-by-wire flight control system for Heart’s electric 19-seater aircraft ES-19. The ITF is in the shape of a full-scale airframe where systems can be ground tested together to assess new technology and build knowledge on aircraft integration aspects, for more systems than flight controls. It has supported development of a fly-by-wire system that is powered from the on-board batteries.. It is a novel solution for commercial aviation, enabling fully electric flight controls.

Expected long term effects

The system being developed with the supplier enables improvements in performance, safety and reliability. The impact at the aircraft level is a reduction in weight and maintenance costs by not using hydraulic systems for Flight Controls. The solution is safer and mitigates jamming and intermittent faults. It reuses parts, significantly reducing maintenance cost. The ITF enables testing of mission performance, safety and reliability in a hardware-in-the-loop rig, for simulated missions, reducing risk by front loading the verification of requirements.

Approach and implementation

The project was structured in four workpackages (WPs): project management, certification, supply chain development, and frame build. All WPs were headed by respective departments which have grown throughout the project. Heavy interaction between certification, flight controls and prototyping (building the ITF) has been key. A large part of the organization has also been involved, making the practices developed in ECEA a corner stone in our Design Organization Handbook. It has also influenced the suppliers: accepting the method the ITF prescribes has been a selection criterion.