Systems thinking and aircraft design: managing complexity

Abstract Systems are holistic that represent complex structures in which different components interact. Systems thinking plays an important role as a methodology used to solve and analyse these complex problems. This approach emphasises addressing problems holistically rather than simply breaking them down into parts, providing a deeper understanding of identifying and resolving root causes. The article aims to explain the conceptual framework of systems thinking by discussing the basic concepts and principles of systems thinking in detail. In this context, the literature focuses on reaching a common definition of the term ‘systems’ and discusses practical approaches to the use of systems thinking in aircraft design. It also includes analysis of the application of systems thinking through examples of catastrophic accidents resulting from the misunderstanding or mismanagement of complex systems in engineering studies. The change in aircraft design process over the years has been examined, and a new categorisation method is proposed. By integrating systems thinking into the aircraft design process, it examines the advantages it will provide in understanding and optimising the interaction of components, saving time and costs. This study aims to deal with the systems thinking perspective of aircraft design. The importance of the system concept in aviation is emphasised with concrete examples, and its applicability is examined. Thus, a base is formed for its use in aviation.