Aircraft Electrical Systems Market

[287 Pages Report] The aircraft electrical systems market is projected to grow from USD 19,344 million in 2020 to USD 37,265 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period. Optimized aircraft performance through the use of more electric technology is a major factor driving the growth of the aircraft electrical systems market.

COVID-19 Impact on the Global Aircraft Electrical Systems Market

The COVID-19 impacted all the regions across the globe. The overall demand for electrical systems of aircraft from each region in the globe majorly dependent on the aircraft deliveries. Due to COVID-19 outbreak there has been reduction passenger travel demand across region, which has negatively impacted he aviation industry across the globe.

According to the latest estimates, passenger demand have been dropped from 187 million baseline for 2020 by 2,291 to 3,061 million (international by 1,105 to 1,437 million and domestic by 1,186 to 1,623 million). This demand level would be 2,104 to 2,874 million (international by 1,033 to 1,366 million and domestic by 1,071 to 1,508 million) below the 2019 level. The most substantial demand reduction (in total number) is expected to be in Asia/Pacific, followed by Europe, hitting its summer travel peak season.

Aircraft Electrical Systems Market Dynamics

Driver: Optimized aircraft performance through the use of more electric technology

In a conventional aircraft, most non-propulsive systems are driven by a combination of pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical, and electric power sources. However, these systems have certain disadvantages, such as low efficiency in the conversion rate of fuel to energy and potential leakage of corrosive fluids, along with the high risk of fire. On the other hand, more electric technology refers to the use of electricity to power most non-propulsive systems in an aircraft. The more electric architecture is power-optimized to achieve performance efficiency with lesser power consumption. The shift from hydraulic to electric power makes the aircraft lighter by eliminating the need for hydraulic reservoirs. Reduction in the overall aircraft weight results in increased fuel efficiency. Aircraft manufacturers are aiming to improve the efficiency of their aircraft by replacing about 11% of hydraulically controlled systems with electric systems. Thus, the optimization of aircraft performance is a major growth driver for the aircraft electrical systems market.

Opportunity: Technological advancements in aircraft electrical systems

The latest advances in electric and electronic aircraft technologies offer significant opportunities to component manufacturers. Aircraft manufacturers are examining novel ways of power generation and distribution at various levels of the value chain. Complex embedded digital systems, distributed architectures, and power electronics (in the starter/generation system of the main engines) are some of the technologies vying for space on forthcoming aircraft. The increasing use of programmable solid-state devices and switching power devices in place of traditional electromechanical circuit breaker technology is also expected to provide benefits to aircraft in terms of load management, fault isolation, diagnostic health monitoring, and improved flexibility to accommodate modifications and system upgrades.

Challenge: Power density and efficiency

In the present scenario, due to the miniaturization of power conversion equipment, manufacturers are facing power density and efficiency challenges. Reduction in size is achieved using expensive means of heat removal techniques. This results in increasing the overall aircraft electrical system cost. Market players are facing a big challenge in terms of replacing and introducing high-frequency switch-mode power supplies for aircraft, which will result in reducing the size and weight of the devices while improving the devices’ efficiency and reducing costs.

By platform, the commercial aviation segment is expected to be the largest contributor to the aircraft electrical systems market during the forecast period.

The commercial aviation sector witnessed strong growth over the past few years. This growth can be attributed to factors such as increasing air travel, the rise in disposable income of the middle-class population, and increased international trade and tourism across the globe. Strong growth in this sector has resulted in an increased number of aircraft orders to address the increasing air passenger traffic.

By component, the generators segment is projected to lead the aircraft electrical systems market during the forecast period.

Generators are an important component used in aircraft electrical systems. They are the primary source of electrical power. Generators convert mechanical energy into electrical energy and are found in light aircraft. They are also driven by the engine by means of a belt arrangement. Aircraft with generators use battery power at low engine RPM. Nowadays, in most aircraft, alternators are used as a replacement for generators.

North America is expected to lead the market for aircraft electrical systems during the forecast period.

North America is expected to be the largest market for aircraft electrical systems during the forecast period. The growing demand for aircraft for commercial applications and their increasing utility in the defense sector to carry out transport and surveillance activities are additional factors influencing the growth of the aircraft electrical systems market in the North American region.

Huge investments in the research and development of more electric aircraft and increasing demand for fuel efficient and low maintenance aircraft are factors driving the growth of the aircraft electrical systems market in this region. Recent advances in technology have enabled Boeing to incorporate a new no-bleed systems architecture in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The new architecture eliminates the traditional pneumatic system and bleed manifold, and converts the power source of most functions, formerly powered by bleed air, to electric power, which includes air conditioning systems.

Key Players

Major vendors in the aircraft electrical systems market include AMETEK (US), Safran (France), Astronics Corporation (US), Amphenol Corporation (US), Esterline Technologies (US), Honeywell (US), Meggitt (UK), and Thales Group (France).

Scope of the report

This research report categorizes the aircraft electrical systems market based on end user, system, component, application, platform, and region.

• OEM
• Aftermarket

By system:

• Power Generation
• Power Distribution
• Power Conversion
• Energy Storage

By component:

• Generators
• Conversion devices
• Distribution devices
• Battery Management Systems

By application:

• Power Generation Management
• Flight Control & Operation
• Cabin System
• Configuration Management
• Air Pressurization & Conditioning

By technology:

• Conventional
• More Electric
• Electric

By platform:

• Commercial Aviation
• Military Aviation
• Business & General Aviation

By region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia Pacific
• Middle East
• Rest of the World

Recent Developments

• In April 2020, The UTC and Raytheon Company have been merged and new company named as Raytheon Technologies
• In February 2019, Safran signed a contract with AVIC to provide the main and auxiliary electrical generation system for MA700, a regional turboprop aircraft.
• In April 2018, AMETEK signed an agreement with AAR to provide power distribution units, starter generators, generator control units, primary and secondary power distribution for commercial aircraft, regional transport aircraft, and helicopter markets.
• In November 2018, Honeywell received a contract from the US Air Force worth USD 1,036.0 million to provide logistics support for secondary power systems and ground-based auxiliary power systems for multiple aircraft types.

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