Carbon nanotubes have excellent mechanical properties

but also have high conductivity

high thermal conductivity

flame retardancy and other functional advantages

which are expected to be widely used in many functional directions in the aviation field. In this paper

according to the application requirements of carbon nanotubes in various functional directions in aviation field

the research progress of carbon nanotubes in conductive structures and electromagnetic shielding

in the structural health monitoring of composite materials for aviation

in the electric heating curing of composite materials

in the electric deicing of aircraft wings

and in flame retardant composites are reviewed. The advantages and disadvantages of carbon nanotubes in various functional applications are analyzed. The results show that carbon nanotubes and their macrostructures have great potential in various functional applications

but they still need large-scale

low-cost preparation technology

high-quality stability control technology as a strong support for their functional applications.