Aircraft Engine Restart Guidance Through Automated Descent
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current engine restart procedures in multi-engine aircraft require manual guidance by at least two pilots, which can be cumbersome and challenging if one pilot is incapacitated or if the flight conditions are outside the optimal restart envelope, especially in the event of a total engine flame out (TEFO).
Innovation Solution
An automated assistance system that determines engine status and controls an automated descent of the aircraft to a predefined altitude and speed conducive to engine restart, reducing pilot workload by guiding the aircraft to the engine restart flight envelope, even with a single pilot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual guidance procedures are used for engine restart, then the aircraft can be guided to the restart flight envelope, but the procedure becomes cumbersome and challenging when one pilot is incapacitated or during total engine flame out
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the aircraft to guide itself to the engine restart flight envelope automatically. The guidance system uses the aircraft's own flight control systems and navigation capabilities to perform the descent and positioning maneuvers that would normally require manual pilot input, thereby making the system self-sufficient during critical engine failure scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual control system with an automated electronic guidance system. The flight management system computes the required flight path and provides automated guidance commands, substituting the manual mechanical control actions with electronic automation to reduce pilot workload while maintaining restart capability
2Productivity
If the aircraft is guided manually to the engine restart flight envelope, then engine restart can be attempted, but the process is time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary computation of the optimal flight path to the engine restart envelope before the aircraft actually needs to descend. The flight management system calculates the required descent profile, target altitude, and approach parameters in advance, allowing the aircraft to execute the maneuver more efficiently without delays during the critical restart phase
Solution Approach 2:
The automated guidance system replaces manual flight control with electronic automation that can compute and execute the descent to the restart envelope faster and more precisely than manual operations, reducing both the time required and the complexity of the procedure
Data Source
AI summary
An assistance system and method for assisting with the restart of at least one engine of an aircraft includes determining that at least one engine of the aircraft has flamed out and controlling an automated descent of the aircraft down to a predefined target altitude below which the altitude of the aircraft is conducive to at least one attempt to restart the at least one stopped engine.