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Experimental Flight Management System (EFMS) |
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The Experimental Flight Management System was developed to demonstrate, in simulation and flight trials, the capabilities of an advanced flight management system to:
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- Predict 4D trajectories, taking into account possible ATC constraints and airline operating procedures;
- Negotiate this ‘user preferred trajectory’ with ATC via data link;
- Guide the aircraft to that trajectory in space and time.
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There were significant links between the Experimental Flight Management System and Airborn Human Machine Interface (AHMI) projects, with the AHMI activity initially being part of the EFMS:
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Link to Airborne Human Machine Interface project |
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The Experimental Flight Management System project had two main phases:
- Phase 1, split into Phase 1a for PHARE Demonstration 1, and Phase 1b for PHARE Demonstration 2;
- Phase 2, a complete redesign for PHARE Demonstration 3.
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For Phase 1, the EFMS software was developed at different sites by a mix of aeronautical and software engineers. It became essential that a team of experienced software engineers completed the software analysis and design of the system, and also integrated and tested the software modules produced by the partners.
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For Phase 2, a redesign was necessary to meet the new requirement for two-crew operation, and also to produce a more robust system for PHARE Demonstration 3. New software for Phase 2 was developed by the integration team, whilst the research centres produced the algorithms (plus any software specific to their aircraft), and conducted system tests.
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The PHARE airborne programme was highly successful. The Experimental Flight Management System, with its Airborne Human Machine Interface was used in three PHARE Demonstration programmes using three real aircraft and a flight simulator.
- In PHARE Demonstration 1, the BAC 1-11 of NATS/DERA was flown by company test pilots.
- In PHARE Demonstration 2, the VFW-614 of DLR (ATTAS) was flown by company test pilots.
- In PHARE Demonstration 3, the Cessna Citation II of NLR and the BAC 1-11 of NATS/DERA were flown by company test pilots. In addition the Multi-Cockpit Simulator (based on a Boeing 747) of the EUROCONTROL Experimental Centre was flown by several airline pilots.
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The concept of 4D navigation was demonstrated to be readily achievable: cross-track errors of less than 100 metres; height errors of less than 500 ft. in climb and descent; time errors less than 10 sec. in cruise and descent (and less than 5 sec. in TMA). The impressive performance of the 4D guidance was, however, dependent on the accuracy of the forecast meteo data.
In PHARE Demonstration 2 the ability of an aircraft to fly negotiated trajectories in a routine manner while operating on its inbound route down to the approach gate within continuous 4D tolerances, was convincingly demonstrated.
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The Experimental Flight Management System is documented in the following:
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