Method and apparatus for an improved autopilot system providing for late runway change

US5523949A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Boeing Company · US

Inventors

• Robert M. Agate · Seattle, US
• Ronald J. Bloom · Bellevue, US
• John Cashman · Redmond, US
• Robert E. Chaney · Scottsdale, US
• John Griffin · Phoenix, US
• Charles A. Hovland · Des Moines, US
• Ronald Lilischkies · Avon, US
• Joseph M. MacDonald · Issaquah, US
• Timothy C. McRoberts · Bothell, US
• Frank P. Santoni · Redmond, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 5, 1994
• Grant date: Jun 4, 1996
• Expiry date: Aug 5, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G05D1/0676
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An improvement to an autopilot flight director system allows the flight crew to make a late runway change without disengaging the autopilot. The improved system allows a transition to a new runway assignment if radio altitude is greater than 1500 feet. Control logic determines whether or not localizer and/or glideslope have been captured and enters predetermined modes as a function thereof to effect a transition to the new approach while enabling instrument landing system retuning while maintaining autopilot engagement. Flight crew workload during approach is significantly reduced as a result of implementation of the improved system.