Automated engine vibration monitoring and control system

A method for monitoring engine vibrations and automatically controlling aircraft gas turbine engines, the method comprising the steps of:

• supplying vibration data from an engine vibration data source to a flight management system (FMS);
• supplying an autopilot status signal from an aircraft autopilot to the FMS, the autopilot status signal representative of whether the autopilot is engaged or disengaged;
• determining in the FMS, and based on the autopilot status signal, when the aircraft autopilot is engaged and disengaged;
• and
• when the FMS determines that the aircraft autopilot is engaged:
• processing the vibration data in the FMS to determine when engine vibrations exceed one or more first thresholds;
• when the engine vibrations exceed the one or more first thresholds, supplying commands from the FMS to the autopilot that cause the autopilot to take corrective actions to reduce the engine vibrations below the one or more first thresholds;
• processing the vibration data in the FMS to determine when the engine vibrations exceed one or more second thresholds;
• and
• when the engine vibrations exceed the one or more second thresholds, supplying commands from the FMS to generate an alert to a pilot to take manual control.

An engine vibration monitoring and control system, comprising:

• an aircraft autopilot;
• an engine vibration data source configured to supply vibration data;
• and
• a flight management system (FMS) in operable communication with the aircraft autopilot and the engine vibration data source, the FMS configured to (i) determine when the aircraft autopilot is engaged and disengaged and (ii) upon determining that the aircraft autopilot is engaged, to:
• process the vibration data to determine when engine vibrations exceed one or more first thresholds and when the engine vibrations exceed one or more second thresholds;
• when the engine vibrations exceed the one or more first thresholds, supply commands to the autopilot that cause the autopilot to take corrective actions to reduce the engine vibrations below the one or more first thresholds;
• and
• when the engine vibrations exceed the one or more second thresholds, generate an alert to a pilot to take manual control.