Fiber Optics in Avionics: Why It’s the New Go-To for Aircraft Design

Fiber optic cabling is utilized in a wide variety of applications. Because of its versatility, lightweight, and ability to transfer large amounts of data with speed, fiber optics have become a valuable resource in the avionics industry. After all, modern aircraft rely heavily on connected communications. Most manual systems have now been replaced with embedded computers as well as sophisticated sensors to control the flight systems.

Connectivity for Passengers, Too

In addition to all that processed information from the flight deck, passenger amenities like in-flight Wi-Fi and entertainment also depend on connectivity. The need for high speed in all these areas of avionics makes fiber optics a new necessity in the industry. Higher processing speeds foster faster connections and support more powerful computers.

Fiber Optics Reduces Weight, Saving Fuel

What makes fiber optics unique is that it fits within the SWaP (size, weight, and power consumption) approach. Aircraft engineers are always looking to create better fuel efficiency and lower operating costs. Less weight in any part of the aircraft helps achieve this goal. This may be the single most important aspect of why designers are shifting toward the use of fiber optics. It has other benefits as well.

Fiber Optics Displaces Copper in Many Situations

Aircraft designers are tapping fiber optics, which has in the past been parallel to copper cables, as its go-to. It’s technologically and economically an ideal fit. Fiber optic cable has cemented its place in avionics with its smaller size and weight, EMI immunity, and longer transmission distances. Let’s look at these benefits more closely:

  • Smaller and lighter: compared to copper, fiber optics can cut weight by 50% and space savings by 25%. Consider this: a Boeing 737 has 40 miles of wiring. Any opportunity to reduce weight and space is appreciated.
  • EMI invulnerability: Fiber optics also have an edge because they are impervious to electrical noise, whereas copper must be shielded. Even then, strong EM fields can penetrate shielding.
  • Longer distances: The space between interconnects aren’t very far in an aircraft; however, the longer, the better. Fiber optics do this better without degrading the connection.

In commercial airplane cabins, copper wiring adds weight to each seat for connection. Fiber optics cable changes all that. It can run directly from the server to the screen. In addition to lightening the seat weight, fiber optic cabling offers greater bandwidth with multimode factors delivering at speeds of greater than 10 GB/s.

While fiber optics may not completely replace copper wiring in the immediate future, the need for copper has become less and less, saving weight, space, and dollars.

In the art of fiber optics, avionics is certainly an industry with potential. The unique properties of fiber optics make it perfect for delivering communications throughout a commercial airplane. Fiberguide provides high-quality fiber optics that can both withstand the changing environment of air transport and deliver connectivity. Learn more about what we offer by browsing our fiber optics products.

Read more at fiberguide.com

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

college
Gamifying College Readiness: How Loper Makes the Enrollment Journey More Engaging!
October 16, 2025

High schoolers are overwhelmed — and not just by homework. The path to college can feel like a maze of forms, essays, and deadlines, with little guidance on where to begin. A recent survey found that nearly three-quarters of students describe the college application process as “difficult.” For many, that difficulty isn’t academic; it’s…

Read More
Image
How Polygon’s Smart Moisture Control System Protected a Mass Timber Student Housing Project
October 16, 2025

Amid the rise of sustainable architecture, mass timber has become a powerful symbol of progress — a material that marries renewable design with modern efficiency. Yet, in the damp climate of Vancouver, BC, sustainability meets its match: moisture. Managing humidity levels in large-scale wood construction isn’t just a matter of comfort; it’s about protecting structural…

Read More
Classroom air quality and student performance
The Hidden Factor Shaping Student Success: Classroom Air Quality
October 15, 2025

By Dan Walsh, VP & GM at AAA Home Services, and Christine Willing, CEO of Think Happy Live Healthy. Why Air Quality Matters in Schools When we think about improving schools, conversations often center on curriculum, technology, or staffing. But there’s a silent, invisible factor that profoundly influences student health, behavior, and learning outcomes: the…

Read More
Chase Harris
Faith, Fatherhood, and Fortitude: Inside Chase Harris’ Mission to Make Accessibility Possible for Every Child
October 15, 2025

Chase Harris is a father, husband, entrepreneur, and all-around force of light. Alongside his wife, Carly, and their son, Cash, he has inspired millions online through messages of resilience, faith, and family. Their story is one of turning adversity into action — and hardship into hope. “We knew early on that Cash had this special…

Read More