Evaluation of Intelligent Flight Control Systems for Loss of-Control Recovery and Prevention

Abstract Recent advancements in the field of loss-of-control recovery and prevention include fault-tolerant control, improved pilot training, and cockpit automation. The benefits of fault-tolerant "intelligent," flight control systems were demonstrated by the Flight Mechanics Action Group on Fault-Tolerant Control of the Group for Aeronautical Research and Technology in Europe. By assessing one of these systems in actual operational scenarios, the research allowed for an improvement in the systems' technological readiness level. The handling characteristics findings of a piloted flight simulator assessment with a damaged aircraft model demonstrated that an online physical model identification approach contributed to improved pilot performance following potentially catastrophic structural and flight-critical system failures. Airlines and engineering test pilots had no problems conducting a safe approach and landing following the failures and subsequent control reconfiguration by the intelligent flight control system.