Author: H. A. Mooij

Publisher:

Published: 1988

Total Pages: 16

ISBN-13:

The suitability of an aircraft with respect to human control is determined by its so-called handling qualities. In modern transport aircraft the handling qualities are determined to a high degree by the flight control system. An introduction to the following aspects of closed-loop flight control systems for modern transport aircraft is given: stabilization and manoeuvring functions, candidate implementation forms, (mini-size) manipulators for flight control, and mathematical representations of the airframe/flight control system combination required for prediction and evaluation purposes. Regarding criteria for good handling qualities of transport aircraft the 'terminal flight phases' (take-off, initial climb, final approach and landing) are of prime interest. A treatise on a number of promising quantitative criteria for transport aircraft equipped with advanced flight control systems is given. Two groups of criteria are distinguished: criteria based on the dynamic characteristics of the aircraft alone (six criteria) and criteria based on the dynamic characteristics of the pilot/aircraft closed-loop system (two criteria). In the latter case a quasi-linear describing function for the human controller behaviour is used. (SDW).