Patent ID: 8155803

Claim:
A method for assisting in the management of an engine failure on a multi-engine aircraft, according to which method the engines of said aircraft are monitored during a flight in such a manner as to be able to detect the engine failure, wherein, when the engine failure is detected during the flight, the method comprises automatically carrying out the following series of successive steps: a) determining current values of parameters relating to flight conditions of the aircraft, together with values of basic parameters of the aircraft; b) generating a flight strategy which is configured to be applied to the aircraft to enable the aircraft to fly to a destination airport; c) determining, using said current values and values determined in step a) and said flight strategy, vectoring settings comprising speed, thrust and altitude settings which are configured to be implemented on the aircraft so as to enable the aircraft to fly to said destination airport; and d) transmitting the speed, thrust and altitude settings to a system configured to automatically implement the speed, thrust and altitude settings on the aircraft, wherein said flight strategy is a strategy selected by an operator or, when is no selection, a default strategy, wherein step c) further comprises, in order to determine said vectoring settings, carrying out the following operations: c1) calculating an altitude which is characteristic of the flight strategy; c2) calculating at least one speed parameter which is characteristic of said flight strategy; c3) comparing an effective altitude of the aircraft when the engine failure occurs with the altitude which is characteristic of the flight strategy and, depending on a result of the comparison, determining first speed, thrust and altitude settings to enable the aircraft to reach said characteristic altitude; c4) determining second speed, thrust and altitude settings to enable the aircraft to follow a cruising flight at said characteristic altitude toward said destination airport using said at least one speed parameter; and c5) determining third speed, thrust and altitude settings to enable the aircraft to descend in order to land at said destination airport, wherein said first, second and third speed, thrust and altitude settings form said vectoring settings, and wherein the default strategy is stored in a database and comprises an obstacle clearance strategy which enables the altitude of the aircraft to be maximized.