Planning fuel-conservative descents in an airline environmental using a small programmable calculator: algorithm development and flight test results
A simple, airborne, flight-management descent algorithm was developed and programmed into a small programmable calculator. The algorithm may be operated in either a time mode or speed mode. The time mode was designed to aid the pilot in planning and executing a fuel-conservative descent to arrive at a metering fix at a time designated by the air traffic control system. The speed model was designed for planning fuel-conservative descents when time is not a consideration. The descent path for both modes was calculated for a constant with considerations given for the descent Mach/airspeed schedule, gross weight, wind, wind gradient, and nonstandard temperature effects. Flight tests, using the algorithm on the programmable calculator, showed that the open-loop guidance could be useful to airline flight crews for planning and executing fuel-conservative descents.
- Research Organization:
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Hampton, VA (USA). Langley Research Center
- OSTI ID:
- 5909566
- Report Number(s):
- NASA-TP-2393; L-15844
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Description of the computations and pilot procedures for planning fuel-conservative descents with a small programmable calculator
User's manual for a fuel-conservative descent planning algorithm implemented on a small programmable calculator