ACROSS: Electronic Standby Pilot Concept of Operations

Abstract

This document is the Deliverable D10.1-3 titled “Concept of Operations” for ACROSS, a European Commission 7th Framework co-funded project. The Emergency Aircraft Control System (EACS) to be developed in ACROSS WP10 must deal with a full flight deck crew incapacitation (Configuration 4 of the ACROSS Definitions) and should enable a safe return and automatic landing of the aircraft to a suitable airport. A potential system for the detection of the incapacitation will be investigated in ACROSS WP9. During the phase in which the EACS is active it may be in contact with a cooperative ground segment. As defined in D10.1-1 Candidate Solutions, two solutions ere brought forward to more detailed description in this concept of operations (ConOps) document. During the identification of the candidate solutions, the full spectrum of control over the aircraft systems was considered: From a fully automated Emergency Aircraft Control System (EACS) to fully ground controlled Remotely Piloted Aircraft System. None of these extreme ends of the spectrum will by themselves constitute a satisfying solution at all levels. Therefore, for the purpose of deriving a concept of operations, the two solutions for which ConOps are developed are called “Ground Centered” and “Aircraft Centered”. For the aircraft centered solution, the EACS will navigate, aviate and land autonomously. A ground station linked to the EACS will be able to make strategic decision such as diversions to alternate airports (for example in the event of runway closure) and uplink barometric altimeter settings. The ground centered solution will have the possibility of using the aircraft as remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) with direct commands to the primary control surfaces. The electronic standby pilot onboard the aircraft still has authority to override ground control (for example in case of a TCAS alert).