Avionics

Avionics is short for Aviation Electronics. It includes communications radios, GPS, flight management systems, navigation radios, autopilots? and almost anything else electronic in an aircraft.

These electronic systems must be certified by the FAA (in the U.S.) prior to being used in the aircraft, requiring a high degree of testing under a wide range of environmental conditions. These conditions include, but are not limited to, high and low temperatures, low air pressures (simulating high altitudes), radio and other forms of electronic interference, and vibration.