Patent ID: 8761965
Filing Date: 2014-06-24
Classification: B64D,G05D

Abstract:
1. A method for automatic control of an aircraft in event of flight crew incapacity, comprising: determining any incapacity of the flight crew; providing a message on a cockpit display requiring acknowledgement from the flight crew in response to determining incapacity of the flight crew, wherein requiring acknowledgement from the flight crew comprises receiving a security code that would only be known by an authorized flight crew member; commanding an auto pilot to control the aircraft in response to not receiving the acknowledgement from the flight crew; controlling the aircraft to a landing site by the auto pilot in response to the auto pilot being commanded to control the aircraft; providing another message requiring acknowledgement from the flight crew when the aircraft reaches the landing site, wherein requiring acknowledgement from the flight crew comprises receiving the security code; determining a safe area to avoid ground collateral damage and time of flight to the safe area before fuel exhaustion in response to not receiving the security code responsive to the other message; and flying the aircraft to the safe area prior to fuel exhaustion in response to not receiving the security code responsive to the other message.