초록 ▼

An improvement to a method of automatic flight using a flight management system is provided. The flight management system includes a lateral navigation (LNAV) control mode in which the flight management system provides roll commands via a flight director system to the pilot during manual flight or t

An improvement to a method of automatic flight using a flight management system is provided. The flight management system includes a lateral navigation (LNAV) control mode in which the flight management system provides roll commands via a flight director system to the pilot during manual flight or to an autopilot during autoflight to effectuate lateral flight guidance. The improvement includes evaluating the energy state of the airplane during the LNAV control mode, calculating a Thrust Based Roll Limit (TBRL), and providing an appropriately limited bank angle command signal via the flight director system for use by the pilot during manual flight or to the autopilot during autoflight while flying in a thrust-limited condition. The TBRL is calculated as a function of the energy state of the airplane. The use of the TBRL to limit the bank angle command signal avoids an uncommanded change in altitude and/or airspeed.

대표청구항 ▼

[ The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:] [8.]8. In a method of automatic flight using a flight management system having a lateral navigation control mode in which the flight management system calculates a roll angle and provid

[ The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:] [8.]8. In a method of automatic flight using a flight management system having a lateral navigation control mode in which the flight management system calculates a roll angle and provides a bank angle command signal to effectuate lateral flight guidance using the calculated roll angle, an improvement comprising:(a) evaluating the energy state of the airplane and calculating a thrust based roll limit as a function of the energy state of the airplane;(b) comparing the thrust based roll limit to the calculated roll angle;(c) using the lesser of the thrust based roll limit and the calculated roll angle as the bank angle command signal; whereby the thrust based roll limit avoids an uncommanded change in aircraft altitude and/or airspeed; and(d) providing a flight crew alerting message when a predicted holding turn radius exceeds a holding boundary defined by pre-determined airspace regulations and one of at least two circumstances exist, a first circumstance being an upcoming maneuver is a holding pattern and time remaining to the holding pattern is within a threshold time amount THR_TMH, a second circumstance being when on a hold entry or when active in holding and the aircraft is flying a first half of the hold.