An aircraft controller ((fig.1,100) is configured to receive the following signals: a landing gear deployment signal; an aircraft position signal, indicating the distance from a landing site (fig.2,40); and one or more flight signals, indicating dynamic conditions or flight parameters. Based on the flight signals a deployment position (fig.2,230) is determined at which the landing gear should be deployed. If the deployment signal is received before reaching the deployment position, landing gear deployment is delayed until the deployment position is reached, otherwise deployment is triggered immediately. The controller may determine a second deployment position (fig.2,210) indicating the closest position to the landing site at which landing gear can be deployed for a safe landing, automatically triggering accelerated deployment, or warning the pilot, if the aircraft reaches this position. Also claimed is an aircraft controller which determines a time periods and/or distance range (fig.2,200) over which landing gear deployment can be initiated i) safely (fig.2,202) and ii) efficiently (fig.204); the controller issues pilot feedback indicating when each period and/or range is entered, and initiates deployment in response to a pilot deployment signal. The pilot may be warned if no deployment signal is received when passing a threshold time or distance (fig.2,220).
Landing gear deployment
2020-08-05
Patent
Electronic Resource
English