Emergency anti-torque thruster system

An anti-torque thruster system implemented onboard a helicopter comprising:

• at least one propulsion means coupled to the helicopter, wherein each propulsion means is capable of providing a measure of anti-torque thrust to the helicopter, and wherein the propulsion means is in addition to and of a different type from the helicopter's main anti-torque system;
• at least one fuel storage container coupled to at least one propulsion means via at least one fuel delivery conduit, wherein each fuel storage container is capable of storing an appropriate fuel for the at least one propulsion means;
• at least one valve means disposed between each fuel storage container and each propulsion means, wherein each valve means may be useable to regulate the flow of fuel from the fuel storage container to the coupled propulsion means;
• and
• at least one controller for controlling each valve means to regulate the flow of fuel from each fuel storage container to the coupled propulsion means, wherein the controller is capable of receiving input from at least one input device.

A method for using an anti-torque thruster system onboard a helicopter, comprising:

• providing at least one propulsion means coupled to the helicopter, wherein each propulsion means is capable of providing a measure of anti-torque thrust to the helicopter, and wherein each propulsion means is in addition to and of a different type from the helicopter's main anti-torque system;
• providing at least one fuel storage container coupled to at least one propulsion means via at least one fuel delivery conduit, wherein each fuel storage container is capable of storing an appropriate fuel for the at least one propulsion means;
• providing at least one valve means disposed between each fuel storage container and each propulsion means, wherein each valve means may be useable to regulate the flow of fuel from the fuel storage container to the coupled propulsion means;
• providing at least one controller for controlling each valve means to regulate the flow of fuel from each fuel storage container to the coupled propulsion means, wherein the controller is capable of receiving input from at least one input device;
• receiving certain flight information;
• receiving certain helicopter specific information;
• comparing the received flight information with the received helicopter specific information to determine whether any of the received flight information exceeds any parameters of the received helicopter specific information;
• activating, if the compared flight information exceeds the parameters of the received helicopter specific information, the propulsion means to provide at least a measure of anti-torque thrust to the helicopter.