Instrumental and Automatic Control for Approach and Landing

Abstract

The flight instrument systems used in large modern transport aircraft represent a considerable development from the standard instrument panel in use at the beginning of this decade. Radio and navigational information is coordinated in a single display and flight direction is provided by means of a separate instrument in which it is normally composited with attitude information. The system contains sufficient redundant information to provide positive warning of a malfunction, and is normally used in conjunction with an automatic pilot which is capable of carrying out the approach accurately and reliably, monitoring control being exercised by the pilot by means of the flight system. Synthetic damping and automatic throttle control of airspeed may also be provided.Statistics based on autopilots in current airline service suggest that an acceptable standard of safety for scheduled automatic landing is not attainable by single-channel autopilots. Adequate safety during the automatic landing manoeuvre can, however, be attained by a multiplex autopilot now under development. Provided that the necessary ground aids are installed, it appears feasible to introduce scheduled automatic landing by 1970.