Cockpit control system for controlling ground travel in aircraft equipped with engine-free electric taxi system

A method for efficiently controlling ground travel in aircraft equipped with engine-free electric taxi drive systems for autonomous ground movement and with a cockpit control system that facilitates operation and control of the engine-free electric taxi drive systems with minimal pilot input, comprising:

• a. providing within a cockpit of an aircraft equipped for autonomous ground movement with nose or main landing gear wheel-mounted engine-free electric taxi drive systems a cockpit control system in operative and control communication with the electric taxi drive systems and with a source of power on the aircraft, wherein the cockpit control system comprises a cockpit control display panel interfacing with the electric taxi drive systems and having components operable in a system test procedure mode, in a drive procedure mode, and in override conditions to indicate and communicate information to a pilot of the aircraft relating to the system test procedure mode, the drive procedure mode, and the override conditions while the pilot is driving the aircraft with the electric taxi drive systems;
• b. providing the components of the cockpit control display panel to comprise a manually activatable Power switch, a TEST button, a SPEED HOLD button, a guarded REVERSE button or switch, a DRIVE SPEED knob, lights indicating at least DO NOT DISPATCH, MAINTENANCE/BAD/COMMAND, and SAFE RUNWAY CROSSING, and indicators for electric taxi drive systems operating parameters, activating the Power switch, and conducting a test of the cockpit control system in the system test procedure mode to determine proper operation of the components and readiness of the electric taxi drive systems for dispatch;
• c. in the drive procedure mode controlling the electric taxi drive systems ready for dispatch with the components of the cockpit control display panel to drive the aircraft during ground movement comprising at a desired optimal ground travel speed;
• and
• d. communicating override conditions comprising conditions indicating that dispatch should not occur, that maintenance is required, that a runway should not be crossed, or that the electric taxi drive systems should not be operated to a corresponding component of the cockpit control display panel so that the pilot of the aircraft controls operation of the electric taxi drive systems and ground travel of the aircraft in response to the communicated override conditions.