Aircraft system and method for selecting aircraft gliding airspeed during loss of engine power
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorJan Tomas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and aircraft system are provided for determining an optimal gliding speed that maximizes gliding distance of the aircraft upon engine failure, and comprises calculating the optimal gliding speed from a speed polar curve, true airspeed, heading, and vertical wind speed. The polar curve may be constructed with consideration of the aircraft center of gravity and weight. The calculated gliding speed, which may be restricted to a threshold, is provided to the pilot and optionally to an autopilot. The method is repeated periodically, or if the wind vertical or horizontal velocities exceed a threshold for a predetermined period of time.
Claims14
An aircraft system within an aircraft having one or more engines, the aircraft system comprising:
- a first sensor configured to determine a true speed of the aircraft;
- a second sensor configured to determine a vertical wind speed;
- a processor coupled to the engines and the first and second sensors, and configured to:
- determine that the engine has lost the ability to provide thrust;
- provide a center of gravity and a weight of the aircraft;
- adjust a speed polar curve considering the center of gravity and weight;
- calculate an optimal gliding speed for maximizing gliding distance from the speed polar curve, the true airspeed, heading, and the vertical wind speed, if at least one of a change of a vertical wind speed or a change of a horizontal wind speed exceeds a threshold for a period of time;
- provide the optimal gliding speed to a pilot of the aircraft as a selected gliding speed;
- and
- repeat the calculation.
An aircraft system on board an aircraft having one or more engines, the aircraft system providing a recommended gliding speed for achieving a maximum gliding distance upon failure of the engines to provide thrust, the aircraft system comprising:
- a display;
- and
- a flight director configured to:
- determine a true airspeed of the aircraft;
- determine a vertical wind speed;
- determine that the engine has lost the ability to provide thrust;
- provide a center of gravity and a weight of the aircraft;
- adjust the speed polar curve considering a center of gravity and weight;
- calculate an optimal gliding speed for maximizing gliding distance from the speed polar curve, the true airspeed, and the vertical wind speed, if at least one of a change of a vertical wind speed and a change of a horizontal wind speed exceeds a threshold for a period of time;
- and
- display the optimal gliding speed on the display.
A method for determining an optimal gliding speed for maximizing gliding distance for an aircraft having one or more engines that have lost all thrust, comprising:
- determining a true airspeed of the aircraft;
- determining a vertical wind speed;
- determining that the engines have lost all thrust;
- providing a center of gravity and a weight of the aircraft;
- adjust a speed polar curve considering the center of gravity and weight;
- calculating an optimal gliding speed for maximizing the aircraft gliding distance from the speed polar curve for the aircraft, the true airspeed, heading, and the vertical wind speed, if at least one of a change of an aircraft vertical velocity and a change of a horizontal wind speed exceeds a threshold for a period of time;
- and
- provide the optimal gliding speed to a pilot of the aircraft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.