US 6,982,655 B2
Method and indicator for displaying information showing the airspeed tolerance margins for an aircraft
Pascal Vialleton, Toulouse (France); Martin Delporte, Tournefeuille (France); Jean-Christophe Reinmuth, Blagnac (France); and Jacques Rosay, Toulouse (France)
Assigned to Airbus France, Toulouse (France)
Filed on Mar. 16, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/800,916.
Claims priority of application No. 03 03413 (FR), filed on Mar. 20, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2004/0183699 A1, Sep. 23, 2004
Int. Cl. G08B 23/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 340—969 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for displaying information showing the airspeed tolerance margins for an aircraft according to which:
a) the current angle of attack of the aircraft is determined;
b) a longitudinal scale is defined which is a function of the aircraft's current aerodynamic configuration and which is composed of several differentiated zones expressed in angles of attack and corresponding, respectively, to an allowed range of flight, to first and second unrecommended ranges of flight and to first and second prohibited ranges of flight, said longitudinal scale comprising particular values of angle of attack corresponding respectively to:
a first flight limit which corresponds to the aircraft's stall airspeed augmented by a safety margin and which represents the minimum airspeed that can be set by the autopilot;
a second flight limit being higher than said first flight limit which, together with the latter, defines said allowed range of flight, said second flight limit corresponding to the maximum speed that the aircraft can assume with all its flaps deployed and without risk to its structural integrity, augmented by a normal loading margin;
a third flight limit being lower than said first flight limit which, together with the latter, defines said first unrecommended range of flight, and which defines said first prohibited range of flight being any value below said third flight limit, said third flight limit corresponding to the aircraft's stall airspeed; and
a fourth flight limit being higher than said second flight limit which, together with the latter, defines said second unrecommended range of flight, and which defines said second prohibited range of flight being any value exceeding said fourth flight limit, said fourth flight limit corresponding to the maximum speed that the aircraft can assume with all its flaps deployed and without risk to its structural integrity, augmented by a reduced loading margin; and
c) said longitudinal scale is presented on a display screen and, being mobile in the longitudinal direction, is able to scroll up and down said display screen, and whose position on said display screen depends on the current angle of attack of the aircraft, which is indicated by a characteristic marker in a fixed position on said display screen across said longitudinal scale, said mobile longitudinal scale scrolling up and down relative to said characteristic marker as a function of the current angle of attack of the aircraft.