System and method for controlling automatic shut-off of an engine

A system comprising:

• a controller configured to be disposed onboard a vehicle system having at least one propulsion-generating vehicle with an engine, the controller configured to determine if the at least one propulsion-generating vehicle is operating in a remote control mode or an onboard control mode, operations of the at least one propulsion-generating vehicle being remotely controlled from an off-board source when the at least one propulsion-generating vehicle is in the remote control mode and the operations of the at least one propulsion-generating vehicle being controlled from onboard the vehicle when the at least one propulsion-generating vehicle is in the onboard control mode,
• the controller also configured to deactivate an automatic engine start-stop (AESS) device responsive to the at least one propulsion-generating vehicle being in or switched to the remote control mode, the AESS device configured to automatically turn off an engine of the at least one propulsion-generating vehicle when operations of the engine are below one or more designated thresholds for at least a designated period of time,
• wherein the AESS device is prevented from automatically turning the engine off when the AESS device is deactivated.