Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Summer Semester 2026

Aircraft Systems (Online)

AVTN 1420-31I

Course: AVTN 1420-31I
Credits: 3
Term: Summer Semester 2026
Department: AVTN
CRN: 20046

Course Description

This course provides a study of the design, construction, and theory of operation of basic systems common to fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft such as: power plants, ignition systems, propellers, rotors, flight controls, fuel, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, lubrication, environmental and oxygen systems, pressurization, landing gear systems, brake systems, ice and rain detection/protection systems, and fire detection and extinguishing systems. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

 

Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
, FAA-H-8083-25C. This is available on the FAA's website at the PHAK Link.
Links to an external site.


Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook - Airframe
, FAA-H-8083-31B. This is available on the FAA's website: AMTA.
Links to an external site.


Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook - Powerplant
, FAA-H-8083-32B. This is available from the FAA's website here: AMTP.
Links to an external site.


Helicopter Flying Handbook
, FAA-H-8083-21B.  This is available from the FAA's website here: HFH Link.
Links to an external site. 

Learning Outcomes

 
  1. Aircraft Structures
  2. Flight Control Systems
  3. Aircraft De-ice and Anti-ice systems
  4. Aircraft Power Plants - Reciprocating and Turbine
  5. Engine Instruments
  6. Fire Protection
  7. Rotors, Propellers and governors
  8. Flight Instruments
  9. Aircraft Maintenance Requirements
  10. Lubrication Systems
  11. Fuel and Fuel Systems
  12. Hydraulic Systems
  13. Pneumatic Systems
  14. Electrical Systems
  15. Environmental Systems
  16. Pressurization Systems
  17. Landing Gear and Brake Systems
  18. Forced Induction Systems
  19. ADS-B
 

Course Requirements

 Course activities will be due each week during the semester. Activities for this course are normally due each week by 11:59 pm on Sunday. All course activities must be submitted on time. Late submissions will only be accepted per the stipulations in the "Late Activities" section below. Students may work ahead and submit course activities anytime before their due dates. All quizzes and assignments will be opened on the day the class begins. The final exam will not be opened early. 

Course Outline

 Wed May 13, 2026 | Quiz Commenced Attendance Quiz | due by 11:59pm
Sun May 17, 2026 | Assignment Project - Airframe | due by 11:59pm
Quiz Quiz - Airframe | due by 11:59pm
Assignment Summary - Airframe | due by 11:59pm
Sun May 24, 2026 | Assignment Project - Aerodynamic Control / Stability | due by 11:59pm
Quiz Quiz - Aerodynamic Control, De-ice and Anti-ice | due by 11:59pm
Assignment Summary - Aerodynamic Control, Aircraft Stability, Anti-ice/De-ice | due by 11:59pm
Sun May 31, 2026 | Assignment Project - Reciprocating Engines and Ignition | due by 11:59pm
Quiz Quiz - Reciprocating Engines, Ignition | due by 11:59pm
Assignment Summary - Reciprocating Engines and Ignition | due by 11:59pm
Sun Jun 7, 2026 | Assignment Project - Engine Instrumentation, Fire Protection, Props & Governors | due by 11:59pm
Quiz Quiz - Engine Instruments, Fire Protection, Props and Governors | due by 11:59pm
Assignment Summary - Engine Instrumentation, Fire Protection, Props and Governors | due by 11:59pm
Sun Jun 14, 2026 | Assignment Project - Rotors | due by 11:59pm
Quiz Quiz - Rotors / Pitot Static, Gyro and Magnetic Instruments | due by 11:59pm
Assignment Summary - Rotors/Pitot Static, Gyro and Magnetic Instruments | due by 11:59pm
Sun Jun 21, 2026 | Assignment Project - Maintenance and Lubrication Systems | due by 11:59pm
Quiz Quiz - Maintenance and Lubrication Systems | due by 11:59pm
Assignment Summary - Maintenance and Lubrication Systems | due by 11:59pm
Sun Jun 28, 2026 | Assignment Project - Electrical Systems | due by 11:59pm
Quiz Quiz - Electrical Systems | due by 11:59pm
Assignment Summary - Electrical Systems | due by 11:59pm
Sun Jul 5, 2026 | Assignment Project - Fuel Systems | due by 11:59pm
Quiz Quiz - Fuel, Fuel Systems, Hydraulics Systems | due by 11:59pm
Assignment Summary - Fuel Systems and Hydraulic Systems | due by 11:59pm
Sun Jul 12, 2026 | Assignment Project - Environmental, Pressurization and Pneumatics | due by 11:59pm
Quiz Quiz - Environmental, Pressurization and Pneumatics | due by 11:59pm
Assignment Summary - Environmental, Pressurization, and Pneumatic Systems | due by 11:59pm
Sun Jul 19, 2026 | Assignment Project - Landing Gear Systems | due by 11:59pm
Quiz Quiz Landing Gear Systems | due by 11:59pm
Assignment Summary - Landing Gear/Braking Systems | due by 11:59pm
Sun Jul 26, 2026 | Assignment Project - Staying ahead of the Aircraft | due by 11:59pm
Quiz Quiz - Superchargers and Turbochargers | due by 11:59pm
Assignment Summary - Superchargers and Turbochargers | due by 11:59pm
Sun Aug 2, 2026 | Assignment Project - Turbine Engines | due by 11:59pm
Quiz Quiz - Turbine Engines, ADS-B | due by 11:59pm
Assignment Summary - Turbine Engines and Helicopter Transmission Systems | due by 11:59pm
Fri Aug 14, 2026 | Quiz Aircraft Systems Final Exam | due by 11:59pm
| Quiz FERPA Consent Waiver |  

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

 Late submission of course activities and assignments are strongly discouraged and acceptance of late work will be at the instructor's discretion.  Late work will only be accepted if prior arrangements were made before the due date. The only exceptions are university-accepted excuses or instructor approval. I will only open a maximum of two assignments per student. No assignments will be reopened 14 days beyond the due date. No assignments will be reopened in the last two weeks of class. 

Attendance Policy

 Each student must participate in the weekly course activities in Canvas as necessary to complete course requirements. 

Course Fees

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.