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US 12,612,180 B2Granted
Flight management method and device in the event of a challenging context in the event of incapacity of at least one pilot flying
AssigneesAirbus SAS, Airbus Operations GmbH
InventorsSylvain Raynaud, Mathieu Rustin, Hélène Da Costa Gomes, Vincent Sibelle, Hugues Van Der Stichel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device configured to warn a pilot flying an aircraft that erroneous data have been entered into a secondary flight plan, to monitor pressure in a cabin of the aircraft, to monitor operation of at least one engine of the aircraft, to determine a capacity of the pilot flying and to automatically activate an escape route when a depressurization of the cabin is detected or when a failure of at least one engine is detected and when an incapacitation of the pilot flying is detected. Also a method and an aircraft with such a device.
Claims14
A method for managing a flight in an event of a challenging context, the method implemented for an aircraft flying in accordance with a main flight plan, the method comprising the following steps:
- a start-up step for implementing all subsequent steps when the aircraft is in a challenging context;
- a preparation step, in which:
- a secondary flight plan data is entered by a pilot flying at controls of the aircraft into a first memory of at least one avionics computer on board the aircraft using an input device while the aircraft is in a flight phase, the secondary flight plan data comprising at least one identifier of at least one waypoint and at least one altitude constraint of the at least one waypoint;
- and
- further secondary flight plan data is determined by the at least one avionics computer based on the entered secondary flight plan data and on one or more performance capabilities of the aircraft, with the further secondary flight plan comprising at least one position of the at least one waypoint and at least one emergency trajectory;
- a warning step implemented by a first module for detecting and warning the pilot flying that erroneous data has been entered into the secondary flight plan during the preparation step representing that the secondary flight plan data entered by the pilot results in an unrecoverable flight path when the secondary flight plan is executed;
- a monitoring step:
- implemented by a second module for monitoring a pressure in a cabin of the aircraft based on pressure measurements transmitted by pressure sensors in the cabin;
- and
- implemented by a third module for monitoring the operation of at least one engine of the aircraft based on data transmitted by engine operation sensors;
- a determination step implemented by a fourth module for determining a capability of the pilot flying;
- an activation step implemented by a fifth module for automatically activating an emergency trajectory corresponding to the at least one emergency trajectory defined between positions of two consecutive waypoints between which the aircraft is located, the activation step being implemented:
- when the aircraft encounters a challenging context;
- when, on one hand, a cabin depressurization is detected in the monitoring step or if a failure of at least one engine is detected in the monitoring step;
- and
- when, on another hand, incapacitation of the pilot flying is detected in the determination step.
13 more elements
A device for managing flight in the event of a challenging context, the device being installed on board an aircraft flying in accordance with a main flight plan, the device comprising:
- a first module configured for detecting and warning that erroneous data has been entered into a secondary flight plan when a pilot flying at controls of the aircraft has entered secondary flight plan data into a first memory of at least one avionics computer on board the aircraft using an input device while the aircraft is in a flight phase, the secondary flight plan data comprising at least one identifier of at least one waypoint and at least one altitude constraint of the at least one waypoint, the at least one avionics computer being configured for determining further secondary flight plan data based on the secondary flight plan data entered by the pilot flying and based on one or more performance capabilities of the aircraft, the further secondary flight plan data comprising at least one position of the at least one waypoint and at least one emergency trajectory, the first module further configured for determining whether erroneous data has been entered into the secondary flight plan representing that the secondary flight plan data entered by the pilot results in an unrecoverable flight path when the secondary flight plan is executed;
- a second module configured for monitoring a pressure in a cabin of the aircraft based on pressure measurements transmitted by pressure sensors in the cabin;
- and
- a third module configured for monitoring an operation of at least one engine of the aircraft based on data transmitted by engine operation sensors;
- a fourth module configured for determining a capability of the pilot flying;
- a fifth module configured for automatically activating an emergency trajectory corresponding to the at least one emergency trajectory defined between positions of two consecutive waypoints between which the aircraft is located, the emergency trajectory being activated:
- when the aircraft encounters a challenging context;
- when, on one hand, cabin depressurization is detected by the second module or when a failure of at least one engine is detected by the third module;
- and
- when, on another hand, incapacitation of the pilot flying is detected by the fourth module.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.