Both civil and military aircraft are increasing in size and complexity and the range of height and speed over which they operate is extending. At the same time, cost of training aircrew is exerting pressure on managements to reduce crew numbers, usually by eliminating the need for specialists. These more expensive aircraft with smaller crews justify more elaborate computing and control systems to exploit their military capability or commercial earning power. Therefore, the need for the more extensive use of airborne computers is already well established.

Due to high cost and poor reliability, analogue computing systems have only marginally satisfied the demands for increased automation in aircraft. However, recent advances in digital computer technology offer advantages in size, accuracy, flexibility and particularly in reliability over analogue methods and show promise that digital computer systems can be designed to meet the future requirements for airborne computing.