Patent ID: 8209101

Claim:
A method of adaptively managing electrical power on an aircraft, the method comprising: developing a profile of a plurality of threshold levels of electrical loading for a plurality of phases of a flight of an aircraft by analyzing at least one source of information chosen from a flight plan and historical electrical loading data, the plurality of phases of the flight including gate, start, taxi from gate, climb, cruise, descent, and taxi to gate; developing a profile of electrical loading for each of a plurality of flight-related systems and a plurality of aircraft cabin systems for the plurality of phases of the flight wherein the profile of electrical loading indicates: maintaining electrical loading below the threshold levels by substantially a same predetermined margin during the plurality of phases of the flight; and sequencing electrical loads over time periods within a particular phase of the flight to substantially equalize electrical loading over the time periods during the particular phase of the flight; receiving in-flight data during the plurality of phases of the flight where the in-flight data is indicative of at least one parameter chosen from an ability of an electrical power generation system of the aircraft to support electrical loading and a level of electrical loading, the in-flight data being received from at least one data source chosen from an electronic engine control system and a load controller; and adjusting at least one profile chosen from the profile of the plurality of threshold levels and the profile of electrical loading responsive to the in-flight data such that electrical loading is maintained below the threshold levels by at least the predetermined margin during the plurality of phases of the flight.