Procedure Validation of an Advanced Approach Scenario under Highly Automated Aircraft Operation Conditions

Abstract

In order to reduce noise and exhaust emissions by means of flexible routing of aircrafts around airports, very high safety standards have to be applied. This is especially true when idle or near idle thrust approach profiles for the operation of aircraft in the vicinity of airports and cities are applied. Moreover, the accuracy of the flight path to be followed demands highly automated operation of the aircraft, i.e. the aircraft is under direct control of a flight management system (FMS) supervised by the pilot. Depending on individual characteristics, the pilot of the approaching aircraft will be either in a state of medium or standard workload if he is not relying on the automatic flight systems, or reduced to minimum workload if he is relying on those systems. In general, a pilot has very few operation alternatives either to continue the approach or e.g. to start a go-around procedure. Under such conditions, the validation of such a flight procedure represents a scientific challenge since the evaluation will have to be based on each pilot individually.