System and method for recovery from wake vortex encounters

An avionics control system, comprising:

• an avionics controller circuit configured to:
• receive an orientation of an ownship from a sensor of the ownship, the sensor configured to detect the orientation;
• receive a position of a control surface of the ownship;
• determine a magnitude of a potential wake vortex condition based on the orientation;
• initiate a timer responsive to the magnitude being greater than a threshold magnitude;
• reset the timer responsive to the magnitude being less than the threshold magnitude;
• compare a time elapsed after initiation of the timer to a time threshold;
• trigger an automated vortex recovery responsive to the time elapsed being greater than the time threshold and the position of the control surface of the aircraft;
• and
• execute the automated vortex recovery.

An avionics control system, comprising:

• an avionics controller circuit configured to:
• receive an orientation of an ownship from a sensor of the ownship, the sensor configured to detect the orientation;
• determine a magnitude of a potential wake vortex condition based on the orientation;
• initiate a timer responsive to the magnitude being greater than a threshold magnitude;
• initiate a timer responsive to the magnitude being less than the threshold magnitude;
• reset the timer responsive to the magnitude being less than the threshold magnitude;
• compare a time elapsed after initiation of the timer to a time threshold magnitude;
• trigger an automated vortex recovery responsive to the time elapsed being greater than the time threshold;
• and
• execute the automated vortex recovery, wherein the avionics controller circuit is configured to determine whether an autoflight system is engaged, prevent the autoflight system from disengaging while executing the automated vortex recovery if the autoflight system is engaged, and automatically engage the autoflight system if the autoflight system is disengaged, the autoflight system including at least one of an autothrottle or an autopilot.

A method, comprising:

• receiving ownship orientation data from a sensor configured to detect ownship orientation of an ownship;
• receive position data associated with a control surface of the ownship;
• determining an orientation parameter based on the ownship orientation data;
• comparing the orientation parameter to an orientation threshold;
• determining the ownship to be in a wake vortex condition based on at least one wake vortex criteria, the at least one wake vortex criteria including the orientation parameter being greater than the orientation threshold for more than a predetermined period of time, wherein the ownship is determined not to be in the wake vortex condition if the ownship is determined to be purposefully controlled using the position data;
• so that the orientation parameter exceeds the orientation threshold and
• outputting an indication of the wake vortex condition using at least one of a flight display or an audio output device.