Intelligent Flight Control Systems Evaluation for Loss-of-Control Recovery and Prevention

Abstract

Recent developments in the field of loss-of-control recovery and prevention included improved pilot training, cockpit automation, and fault-tolerant control. The Flight Mechanics Action Group on Fault-Tolerant Control of the Group for Aeronautical Research and Technology in Europe demonstrated the advantages of fault-tolerant “intelligent,” flight control systems. The research enabled the improvement of the technology readiness level of these systems by evaluating one of them in realistic operational scenarios. The handling qualities results of a piloted flight simulator assessment with a damaged aircraft model showed that an online physical model identification approach contributed to improved pilot performance following potentially catastrophic structural and flight critical system failures. After the failures and subsequent control reconfiguration by the intelligent flight control system, airline and engineering test pilots experienced no difficulties in conducting a safe approach and landing.