An operational flight phase determination, indication and
configuration system for an aircraft includes input / output circuitry for receiving an operational flight phase selector output
signal, aircraft sensor signals, and on-board
automation system output signals including configuration status information. A processor is coupled to the input / output circuitry. A flight phase data table is coupled to the processor. The flight phase data table includes a
list of the defined operational flight phases for the aircraft. A flight
phase transition rules set is coupled to the processor. The flight
phase transition rules set includes flight rules for defining flight phase transitions. An aircraft
system configuration data table is coupled to the processor. The aircraft
system configuration data table includes a
list of the defined configurations for each operational flight phase and the aircraft
system configuration settings for each configuration. Program memory and
working memory are coupled to the processor. The processor uses input from the input / output circuitry, the flight phase data table, the flight
phase transition rules set, the program memory, the
working memory, and the aircraft
system configuration data table to provide an operational mode
signal indicating the operational mode of the aircraft and a configuration command
signal. A display indicator driver is coupled to the processor for providing display indicator driver signals to an operational flight phase indicator in accordance with the operational mode signal. Output drivers are coupled to the processor for providing configuration commands to aircraft systems in accordance with the configuration command signal.