ABSTRACT
A safe design process and its application are introduced to a concept study for circular variable aero engine inlets. The paper highlights the tasks of inlets, the compromise in designing them and how using variable inlets could solve this compromise and allow for faster and more efficient commercial aircraft. However, high safety and reliability requirements bring up disadvantages. Tackling these disadvantages, a systems engineering approach is complemented by a safety assessment process, according to Aerospace Recommended Practice ARP 4754A. Safety methods that are applicable during early phases of the product development process are presented and applied to develop feasible variable inlet concepts. Hence, safety requirements, potential failure events and resulting failure modes are systematically identified, assessed and mitigated. The mitigation of a failure condition by the means of redundancy within the adjustment control system is presented.
