Editing Airbus A380 (section)

===Avionics===
The A380 employs an [[integrated modular avionics]] (IMA) architecture, first used in advanced military aircraft, such as the [[Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor]], [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II]],<ref name="lessismore">{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationtoday.com/av/categories/commercial/8420.html|title=Integrated Modular Avionics: Less is More|quote=Some believe the IMA concept originated in the United States with the new F-22 and F-35 fighters and then migrated to the commercial jetliner arena. Others say the modular avionics concept, with less integration, has been used in business jets and regional airliners since the late 1980s or early 90s|publisher=Aviation Today|date=1 February 2007|access-date=26 October 2009|archive-date=24 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124083249/http://www.aviationtoday.com/av/categories/commercial/8420.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and [[Dassault Rafale]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dassault-aviation.com/fileadmin/user_upload/redacteur/presse/Backgrounders/RAFALE_EN.doc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304035106/http://www.dassault-aviation.com/fileadmin/user_upload/redacteur/presse/Backgrounders/RAFALE_EN.doc|archive-date=4 March 2009|title=Rafale|publisher=Dassault Aviation|date=12 June 2005}}</ref> The main IMA systems on the A380 were developed by the [[Thales Group]].<ref name=Thales_tech_onboard/> Designed and developed by Airbus, [[Thales Group|Thales]] and [[Diehl Aerospace]], the IMA suite was first used on the A380. The suite is a technological innovation, with networked computing modules to support different applications.<ref name=Thales_tech_onboard>{{cite web|url=http://www.thalesgroup.com/Pages/PressRelease.aspx?id=10607|title=Thales technologies onboard the A380|quote=The A380 is the first aircraft ever to be fitted with the Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) suite, a major technical evolution of global importance for airlines and operators. Designed by Airbus and co-developed with Thales and Diehl Aerospace, the IMA is a leap-ahead technological innovation, with all onboard computing modules networked and able to support different applications. The result is a substantial improvement in computing power, reliability, maintainability, volume, weight and scalability.|publisher=Thales Group|date=30 October 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308162125/http://www.thalesgroup.com/Pages/PressRelease.aspx?id=10607|archive-date=8 March 2012}}</ref> The data networks use [[Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet]], an implementation of ARINC 664. These are switched, [[full-duplex]], [[Star network|star-topology]] and based on [[Ethernet over twisted pair|100baseTX]] [[Fast Ethernet|fast-Ethernet]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Networking|publisher=Lufthansa|url=http://a380.lufthansa.com/en/html/technik/rechenzentrum/index.php |access-date=25 October 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080612223003/http://a380.lufthansa.com/en/html/technik/rechenzentrum/index.php|archive-date=12 June 2008}}</ref> This reduces the amount of wiring required and minimises [[Latency (engineering)|latency]].<ref name="avionics_magazine">{{Cite news|last=Adams|first=Charlotte|title=Test cards for the Airbus A380|publisher=Aviation Today|date=1 July 2002|url=http://www.aviationtoday.com/av/categories/commercial/12760.html|access-date=16 October 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071017163646/http://aviationtoday.com/av/categories/commercial/12760.html |archive-date= 17 October 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Airbus A380 cockpit.jpg|thumb|A380 flight deck]]
Airbus used similar cockpit layout, procedures and handling characteristics to other Airbus aircraft, reducing crew training costs. The A380 has an improved [[glass cockpit]], using [[fly-by-wire]] flight controls linked to [[joystick|side-sticks]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Cockpit |publisher=Lufthansa|url= http://a380.lufthansa.com/en/html/technik/piloten/index.php|access-date=25 October 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612232128/http://a380.lufthansa.com/en/html/technik/piloten/index.php|archive-date=12 June 2008}}</ref><ref name="Timesindepth">{{Cite news|title=Flying the Airbus giant of the skies|work=The Times|location=UK|first=Dominic|last=O'Connell|url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/engineering/article696340.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611225606/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/engineering/article696340.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 June 2011|access-date=26 March 2006|date=26 March 2006}}</ref> The cockpit has eight {{convert|15|by|20|cm|in|abbr=on|adj=on}} [[liquid crystal display]]s, all physically identical and interchangeable; comprising two [[primary flight display]]s, two navigation displays, one engine parameter display, one system display and two [[multi-function display]]s. The MFDs were introduced on the A380 to provide an easy-to-use interface to the [[flight management system]]—replacing three multifunction control and display units.<ref>{{cite web|title=Barco extends its success in the civil avionics market with new Airbus deal |publisher=Barco |url=http://www.barco.com/en/pressrelease/1509/ |access-date=25 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716212733/http://www.barco.com/en/pressrelease/1509/ |archive-date=16 July 2011}}</ref> They include [[QWERTY]] keyboards and trackballs, interfacing with a [[graphical user interface|graphical]] "[[point-and-click]]" display system.<ref name="a380_flight_deck">{{cite web|title=A380 flight deck|publisher=Airbus|url=http://www.airbus.com/en/aircraftfamilies/a380/flight_deck.html|access-date=16 September 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060825173400/http://www.airbus.com/en/aircraftfamilies/a380/flight_deck.html|archive-date=25 August 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Flash-based view of A380s cockpit|publisher=gillesvidal.com|url=http://www.gillesvidal.com/blogpano/cockpit1.htm|access-date=25 October 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091103040246/http://www.gillesvidal.com/blogpano/cockpit1.htm |archive-date= 3 November 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Network Systems Server (NSS) is the heart of A380s paperless cockpit; it eliminates bulky manuals and traditional charts.<ref>{{Cite news|title=A350 cockpit borrows A380 innovations|publisher=Air Transport Briefing|date=6 March 2006|url=http://www.alacrastore.com/storecontent/Business-and-Industry/144565420}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Lufthansa Systems database plots route to the paperless cockpit|work=Flight International|date=5 October 2004|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/lufthansa-systems-database-plots-route-to-the-paperless-cockpit-188307/}}</ref> The NSS has enough inbuilt robustness to eliminate onboard backup paper documents. The A380s network and server system stores data and offers electronic documentation, providing a required equipment list, navigation charts, performance calculations, and an aircraft logbook. This is accessed through the MFDs and controlled via the keyboard interface.<ref name="avionics_magazine"/>