Although this paper is intended to contribute to the symposium a view on the subject from within a major equipment supplier to the aerospace industry, the views expressed, whilst based on experience gained from working within the Aviation Division of Smiths Industries at Cheltenham are my own, and do not necessarily represent those of the Company.

'Avionics’ is used in the title for brevity, although if one accepts the definition of avionics as being the application of electronics to airborne systems and equipment, it does not strictly cover the whole range of products with which Smiths Industries Aviation Division at Cheltenham is concerned. However, since electronics form the major part of Head Up Displays and Flight Control Systems, and an increasing proportion of Flight Deck Instruments and Components, it is the most convenient generic term.