Optimized flap positioning for go-around operations
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsMatthew A. Moser, Michael R. Finn, Benjamin M. Liu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for optimizing a flap setting of an aircraft may include a flap optimizing computer configured to compute an optimum flap setting for one or more flaps of an aircraft. The system may further include a flap control system communicatively coupled to the flap optimizing computer. The flap control system may be operable to select any one of a plurality of flap settings including a designated flap setting. The flap control system may be configured to automatically command the one or more flaps from a first position to a second position corresponding to the optimum flap setting in response to the selection of one of the plurality of flap settings using the flap control system.
Claims20
A system for optimizing a flap setting of an aircraft, comprising:
- a flap optimizing computer configured to compute an optimum flap setting for one or more flaps of an aircraft;
- a flap control system communicatively coupled to the flap optimizing computer, the flap control system operable to select any one of a plurality of flap settings including a designated flap setting;
- and
- wherein the flap control system is configured to automatically command the one or more flaps from a first position to a second position corresponding to the optimum flap setting in response to the selection of one of the plurality of flap settings using the flap control system.
An aircraft, comprising:
- a wing;
- at least one flap mounted to the wing;
- a flap optimizing system for optimizing a flap setting, including:
- a flap optimizing computer configured to compute an optimum flap setting;
- a flap control system communicatively coupled to the flap optimizing computer and including a flap control device movable to a plurality of control device positions each representing a flap setting and including at least one designated control device position;
- a flap actuation system communicatively coupled to the flap control system and configured to position one or more flaps;
- and
- the flap control system configured to automatically command the flap actuation system to position the flaps at the optimum flap setting when the flap control device is moved into the designated control device position.
A method of optimizing a flap setting of an aircraft, comprising:
- computing an optimum flap setting for a flap of an aircraft based, in part, on aircraft state data, airport information, or combinations thereof;
- moving a flap control device from a non-designated control device position to a designated control device position;
- and
- automatically commanding the flap to a position corresponding to the optimum flap setting in response to moving the flap control device from the non-designated control device position to the designated control device position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.