Patent ID: 11138892

Abstract:
An enhanced flight control system and method providing a technological improvement over a conventional flight control systems. A control module employs rules to determine whether or not a received traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) evasive maneuver is automatically implemented. Specifically, the control module effectively couples the TCAS to the FMS, allowing access to the flight plan and to the navigation database and the approach procedures and runway data therein. An algorithm determines when there is a co-occurrence of the conditions (1) a flight plan uploaded in the FMS, (2) autopilot is engaged, (3) VNAV is engaged. Upon co-occurrence of (1) and (2) and (3), and an evasive maneuver is received from a TCAS, the control module determines whether or not to automatically implement the evasive maneuver. Look ahead algorithms may also analyse and modify the flight plan to preclude TCAS alerts and evasive procedures being required.