Method for piloting an aircraft in approach phase

A method for piloting an aircraft (10) moving on an approach level (20) while losing speed before beginning the final descent (21) to a runway (22), the wings (11) of said aircraft (10) being provided with leading-edge high-lift slats (13) and trailing-edge high-lift flaps (14), said slats and flaps being controllable by a control lever (15) to confer notably on said wings:

• before said aircraft (10) begins said approach level (20), a smooth configuration (0), without high lift, for which said slats and said flaps are retracted;
• when said aircraft (10) begins said approach level (20) and when its speed (Vc) falls below a first predetermined value (V1), at least one first configuration (1), with very slight high lift, for which said slats (13) are averagely extended and inclined, whereas said flaps (14) remain retracted;
• and
• when said aircraft (10) follows said approach level (20) and when its speed falls below a second predetermined value (V2) less than said first value (V1), a second configuration (2), with average high lift, for which said slats (13) are averagely extended and inclined, as in said first configuration (1), and said flaps (14) are averagely extended and inclined, wherein:
• there is automatically conferred on said wings (11) of the aircraft (10), when said control lever (15) is in a position corresponding to said first configuration (1) and said aircraft crosses a first speed threshold (AES) greater than said second speed value (V2), at least one intermediate configuration with little high lift (1ext, 1+F) for which said slats (13) are averagely extended and inclined, as in said first (1) and second (2) configurations, and the flaps (14) are less extended than in said second configuration (2);
• and
• when said wings (11) present said intermediate configuration (1ext, 1+F) and the speed of the aircraft increases instead of dropping and crosses a second speed threshold (ARS) greater than said first speed threshold (AES), said flaps (14) are automatically retracted for said wings (11) to return to said first configuration (1).