Aircraft Flight Control System Market

[138 Pages Report] The aircraft flight control system market was valued at USD 11.10 Billion in 2017 and is projected to reach USD 13.67 Billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 3.52% during the forecast period. The base year considered for the study is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2023.

Objectives of the study:

The report analyzes the aircraft flight control system market on the basis of component (cockpit controls, primary flight control computer, secondary flight control computer, elevator actuators, trim hydraulic stabilizers actuators, aileron actuators, spoiler actuators, trim actuators, standby attitude and air data reference unit (SAARU), others), technology (fly by wire, power by wire, hydromechanical systems, digital fly by wire), type (commercial fixed wing flight control system, military fixed flight control system, military UAV flight control system, rotary wing flight control system), platform ( fixed wing, rotary wing), and end user (linefit, retrofit), and maps these segments and subsegments across major regions, namely, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW).

The report provides in-depth market intelligence regarding the aircraft flight control system market and major factors, including drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges that may influence the growth of the market, along with an analysis of micromarkets with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and their contribution to the overall market. The report also covers competitive developments, such as long-term contracts, new product launches and developments, and research & development activities in the aircraft flight control system market, in addition to business and corporate strategies adopted by key market players.

Research Methodology:

Market size estimation for various segments and subsegments of the aircraft flight control system market has been arrived at through extensive secondary research sources such as Airbus and Boeing Aircraft Market Outlook, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and International Air Transport Association (IATA), annual reports and publications, among others, and through corroboration from primaries. Further market triangulation has been done with the help of statistical techniques using econometric tools. All percentage shares, splits, and breakdowns were determined using secondary sources and verified through primary sources. All possible parameters that affect the market have been accounted for, viewed in extensive detail, verified through primary research, and analyzed to acquire the final quantitative and qualitative data. This data is consolidated with detailed inputs and analysis from MarketsandMarkets and presented in this report.

The breakdown of profiles of primary participants is depicted in the figure given below:

To know about the assumptions considered for the study, download the pdf brochure

Market Dynamics

Increasing number of orders for new aircraft

The rise in per capita income of various countries, such as India and China, has made air travel affordable for their population, thereby contributing to an increase in the global air passenger traffic. According to a study conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in May 2015, the number of air passengers is expected to be over 7 billion by 2035, with a growth rate of 4.1% per annum. The growth of the global commercial aviation market is expected to triple over the next 20 to 30 years. Moreover, the development of fuel-efficient aircraft, which has led to cost-effective aircraft operations, has increased the profitability of airlines across the globe. The operational efficiency of an aircraft is determined by various factors such as aircraft design, navigation & flight paths taken by aircraft, and weather conditions. Advancements in navigational technologies used in aircraft, along with efficient flight operations, technical operations, and ground operations have enhanced the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of aircraft operations for airlines. These factors have led to an increase in the number of orders for new aircraft across the globe, which is expected to contribute to the growth of the aircraft flight control system market during the forecast period.

The growth of the aviation sector across the globe is expected to contribute to the increased demand for new aircraft to accommodate the growing air passenger traffic. This is expected to lead to an increase in the number of orders for new aircraft across the globe, thereby fueling the growth of the aircraft flight control system market during the forecast period.

The increasing demand for more electric aircraft across the globe leads to the growing demand for aircraft flight control systems using fly by wire technology. The increased demand for fly by wire aircraft flight control systems can be attributed to their light weight, low power consumption, and increased accuracy, stability, and controllability. The reduction in the overall weight of aircraft, owing to the use of lightweight fly by wire aircraft flight control systems, results in increased fuel efficiency. Moreover, fly by wire aircraft flight control systems have lower maintenance costs as compared to conventional aircraft flight control systems.

Increased demand for lightweight flight control systems

Manufacturers of aircraft are focusing on the development of fuel-efficient aircraft to cater to the different requirements of both, the commercial and defense sectors. Technological advancements in the aerospace & defense industry across the globe and increased demand for improved power performance of aircraft have led to the retrofitting of existing military and commercial aircraft.

Manufacturers of aircraft flight control systems are developing protocols that reduce wiring and lower the life cycle costs of these systems, thereby reducing the time taken to market them. These manufacturers are making efforts to replace the point-to-point wiring and unidirectional buses in aircraft with fast and efficient bi-directional data buses.

Moreover, the increased efforts to reduce SWaP specifications in the aviation industry have resulted in technological advancements in aircraft flight control systems. The communication-related functions of aircraft flight control systems have been optimized to reduce power consumption by these systems.

The increased demand for lightweight aircraft across the globe has led to the development of lightweight aircraft flight control systems using fly by optics or fly by light technology. These systems enable high-speed and accurate data transmission. In these systems, the data generated by software and interpreted by controllers remains the same. Aircraft flight control systems using optical fibers and optical sensors are called fly by light systems. These systems are highly efficient and accurate in transferring data from one component to another in an aircraft.

Stringent regulatory norms for the development of aircraft components and systems

The aviation industry is a highly-regulated industry across the globe due to the inherent risks associated with aircraft operations. A multitude of bilateral, national, and international regulations and standards bind manufacturers of aircraft components and systems. Different countries across the globe have different regulatory bodies governing the safety levels associated with aircraft operations. In addition, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has laid down several regulations that need to be complied with by manufacturers of aircraft components and systems across the globe, to ensure safe aircraft operations and reduce risks associated with defective aircraft components and systems.

Aircraft components and systems have to undergo stringent quality checks and rigorous testing to meet the safety levels set by various regulatory authorities. All the components and systems of aircraft need to undergo a one-time inspection prior to their assembly in an airplane. For instance, the US Federal Aviation Administration has formulated various Airworthiness Directives (AD) to correct any unsafe conditions in a product. According to these directives, all aircraft components and systems that do not meet safety requirements and design tolerance levels are to be replaced with new components and systems. Hence, it is a challenge for the manufacturers of aircraft components and systems to adhere to the stringent regulatory norms and deliver quality products.

The aircraft flight control system market ecosystem comprises aircraft flight control component manufacturers such as Parker Hannifin Corporation (US), and Moog (US), among others. The major customers of aircraft flight control system are airlines, military, and MRO service providers.

Key Target Audience

• Aircraft Flight Control System Manufacturers
• Airlines and Aircraft Manufacturers
• MRO Service Providers and Pump Distributors
• Component Suppliers

Scope of the Report

This research report categorizes the aircraft flight control system market into the following segments and subsegments:

• Aircraft Flight Control System Market, By Component
  • Cockpit Controls
  • Primary Flight Control Computer
  • Secondary Flight Control Computer
  • Elevator Actuators
  • Trim Hydraulic Stabilizers Actuators
  • Aileron Actuators
  • Spoiler Actuators
  • Trim Actuators
  • Standby Attitude and Air Data Reference Unit (SAARU)
  • Others
•  Aircraft Flight Control System Market, By Platform
  • Fixed Wing
  • Rotary Wing
• Aircraft Flight Control System Market, By Type
  • Commercial Fixed Wing Flight Control System
  • Military Fixed Flight Control System
  • Military UAV Flight Control System
  • Rotary Wing Flight Control System
• Aircraft Flight Control System Market, By Technology
  • Fly by Wire
  • Power by Wire
  • Hydromechanical Systems
  • Digital Fly by Wire
• Aircraft Flight Control System Market, By End User
  • Linefit
  • Retrofit
• Aircraft Flight Control System Market, By Region
  • North America
  • Europe
  • Asia Pacific
  • Rest of the World

Customizations available for the report:

Along with the given market data, MarketsandMarkets offers customizations as per the specific needs of the company. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Company Information
  • Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players (up to five)

The aircraft flight control system market is projected to grow from an estimated USD 11.50 Billion in 2018 to USD 13.67 Billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 3.52% during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the increasing aircraft orders as a result of the rise in air passenger traffic across the globe. The growth in passenger traffic is resulting in increased flight hours of aircraft, which is leading to an increase in aircraft demand. Upgradation of old AFCS systems is a key factor driving the demand for aircraft flight control systems from the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) companies.

Based on component, the aircraft flight control system market has been segmented into the different types of AFCS components used in different systems such as cockpit controls, primary flight control computer, secondary flight control computer, elevator actuators, trim hydraulic stabilizers actuators, aileron actuators, spoiler actuators, trim actuators, standby attitude and air data reference unit (SAARU), and others. These components help convert physical signal by pilot or electrical signals by autopilot into a proper form so that other aircraft systems can access it.

Based on platform, the aircraft flight control system market has been segmented into fixed wing and rotary wing. The fixed wing segment is expected to grow at a higher CAGR, owing to the increasing number of fixed wing aircraft fleet worldwide.

Based on type, the aircraft flight control system market has been segmented into commercial fixed wing flight controls system, military fixed flight control system, military UAV flight control system, and rotary wing flight control system. The military UAV flight control system segment is expected to be the fastest-growing segment.

The aircraft flight control systems market, by technology has been segmented into fly by wire, power by wire, hydromechanical systems, and digital fly by wire. The fly by wire segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Fly by wire systems are currently the most used systems in almost all aircraft.

Based on end user, the aircraft flight control systems market has been segmented into linefit and retrofit. The linefit segment is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) report, Revenue Passenger Kilometers (RPKs) increased by 6.5% in 2015 as compared to 2014. This rise in air traffic has led to an increase in demand for aircraft flight control system in the commercial segment, majorly in the Asia Pacific region.

The geographical analysis of the aircraft flight control systems market includes regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). The North America region accounted for the largest share of the market in 2017. However, the Asia Pacific market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to the increase in passenger traffic and military aircraft in countries such as India, China, and Russia.

The existing backlogs of aircraft deliveries act as a restraint in the growth of the market. The limited manufacturing capacity of major aircraft manufacturing companies has resulted in a large backlog of aircraft deliveries.

Products offered by various companies in the market have been listed in the report. The recent developments section of the report includes recent and important developments by various companies between 2009 and 2017. Major companies profiled in the report include Parker Hannifin Corporation (US), Honeywell (US), and Moog (US), among others. Agreements and acquisitions accounted for a major share of the total growth strategies adopted by the leading players in the market. These strategies have enabled companies to strengthen their position in the market.

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