Patent ID: 7708223

Claim:
A method for enhancing the braking efficiency of an aircraft ( 1 ) taxiing on the ground (S), said aircraft ( 1 ) comprising an elongated fuselage ( 2 ) and being provided: with a main landing gear ( 10 ), disposed in an intermediate position of said fuselage ( 2 ) and comprising wheels ( 11 ) provided with brakes; with a steerable front landing gear ( 12 ), disposed at the front of said fuselage ( 2 ) and being used to laterally guide said aircraft ( 1 ) on the ground, said front landing gear ( 12 ) comprising wheels ( 13 ) without brakes; and with controllable aerodynamic surfaces ( 6 , 8 ) disposed at the rear of the fuselage ( 2 ) and capable of generating a variable negative lift force (DP), wherein: in a preliminary phase, a reference value (Fav 3 ) is determined for the vertical force (Fav) exerted by the ground (S) on said front landing gear ( 12 ), said reference value being capable of ensuring a satisfactory efficiency of said front landing gear ( 12 ) for the lateral guiding of said aircraft ( 1 ) when the latter is taxiing on the ground (S); then while said aircraft ( 1 ) taxiing on the ground (S) is braking: the instantaneous vertical force (Fav) actually exerted by the ground (S) on said front landing gear ( 12 ) is measured; and said rear aerodynamic surfaces ( 6 , 8 ) are controlled so that they generate a negative lift value (DP 2 ) capable of maintaining said instantaneous vertical force (Fav) at a value at least approximately equal to said reference value (Fav 3 ).