Description

Control Panels or CPs are integrally illuminated light plates that makeup aircraft flight control systems. Each CP is designed to serve a particular function and built to house components at the Control Panel Assembly (CPA) level. Designed, built, tested and qualified in accordance with MIL DTL 7788, DO-160 and / or customer (MIL/Comm Aero) specifications.

Applications

• Flightworthy and Simulated (trainers) Aircrafts
  • Flightworthy
    • Includes all airplanes, helicopters, or any other machines (both military and commercial) that are capable of flight.
  • Non-Flightworthy
    • Platforms or Simulators that simulate a representation of an airplane, helicopter, or any other machine capable of flight for the purpose of training or presentation.
• CPs can easily fit into both Flightworthy and Non-Flightworthy categories.
• The only things that separate the two are:
  • Customer specifications/requirements that enable/deem the product flightworthy
  • All flightworthy CP components need sufficient testing and must meet requirements of certain Specifications and Standards 
• Commercial and Military Aircraft
  • Commercial Aircraft
    • Common lighting applications
    • CPs are built to commercial standards in the aerospace industry
    • Commercial-grade components can be procured and utilized for this type of CP
  • Military Aircraft
    • Night Vision Goggle (NVG) filters commonly utilized within Control Panels (CPs) for military applications
    • Military-grade components can be procured and utilized for this type of CP
  • Simulators
    • All lighting applications available
    • Loosened requirements for component procurement and specifications 
    • Usable for simulation purposes only – not flightworthy

Types

There are several types of CPs:

Type III

• Panels consisting of one sheet of plastic utilizing MIL-DTL-6363/8 lamps in MS25010 light assemblies for illumination. 
• Type III panels are currently inactive for new designs (obsolete due to new technology) but FTG has the ability to manufacture and produce these superseded panels. All type III panels can be updated to types IV or V by the use of adapter plug MIL-DTL-32385/7 (MS90335-9). 

A basic Type III CP consists of:

• Acrylic body
• Paint
  • Basecoat (White)
  • Topcoat (Black, Gray, or Brown)
• Connector
• Common Hardware (grommets)
• Lamp Assemblies
• Clearcoat

Type IV

• Integrally wired incandescent panels with 5V or 28V input voltages.
• Panels consisting of one sheet of plastic with wiring and lamps embedded within the panel. 

A basic Type IV CP consists of:

• Acrylic body
• Paint
  • Basecoat (White)
  • Topcoat (Black, Gray, or Brown)
• Connector
• Embedded wiring
• Filters
• Lamps
• Common Hardware (grommets)
• Clearcoat

Type V

• Integrally wired panels having replaceable lamps with 5V or 28V input voltages. 
• Panels consisting of a plastic front sheet with attaching printed circuit board containing lamps, circuitry, and connectors.

A basic Type IV CP consists of:

• Acrylic body
• Paint
  • Basecoat (White)
  • Topcoat (Black, Gray, or Brown)
• Circuit Card Assembly with connector
• Filters
• Lamps
• Common Hardware (including inserts, screws, and grommets)
• Clearcoat

Type VI

• Panels consisting of one sheet of plastic with encapsulated EL lamps or a combination of EL lamps.
• Type VI panel consists of a panel blank with encapsulated electroluminescent lamps.

A basic Type IV CP consists of:

• Acrylic body
• Paint
  • Basecoat (White)
  • Topcoat (Black, Gray, or Brown)
• Embedded EL lamp with connector
• Common Hardware (grommets)
• Clearcoat

Type VII

• Integrally wired panels having replaceable LEDs with 5V or 28V input voltages. 
• Panels consisting of a plastic front sheet with attaching printed circuit board containing LEDs, circuitry, and connectors.

A basic Type IV CP consists of:

• Acrylic body
• Paint
  • Basecoat (White)
  • Topcoat (Black, Gray, or Brown)
• Circuit Card Assembly with connector
• Filters
• LEDs
• Resistors
• Common Hardware (including inserts, screws, and grommets), 
• Clearcoat