A simple, airborne, flight-management descent algorithm was developed and programmed into a small programmable calculator. The algorithm may be operated in either a time mode or speed mode. The time mode was designed to aid the pilot in planning and executing a fuel-conservative descent to arrive at a metering fix at a time designated by the air traffic control system. The speed model was designed for planning fuel-conservative descents when time is not a consideration. The descent path for both modes was calculated for a constant with considerations given for the descent Mach/airspeed schedule, gross weight, wind, wind gradient, and nonstandard temperature effects. Flight tests, using the algorithm on the programmable calculator, showed that the open-loop guidance could be useful to airline flight crews for planning and executing fuel-conservative descents.
Planning Fuel-Conservative Descents in an Airline Environmental Using a Small Programmable Calculator: Algorithm Development and Flight Test Results
1985
76 pages
Report
Keine Angabe
Englisch
Aeronautics , Avionics , Computer techniques , Descent , Energy conservation , Flight management systems , Flight paths , Flight tests , Fuel consumption , Aircraft performance , Airspeed , Algorithms , Atmospheric temperature , Commercial aircraft , Flight plans , Mach number , Optimization , Wind effects