Abstract: The aircraft control systems and methods disclosed herein are configured to detect a residual error associated with a flight control computer of an aircraft and mitigate the effect(s) of such residual error in order to maintain safe operation of the aircraft. In some embodiments, the systems and methods are configured to detect an out-of-flight-envelope situation of the aircraft and determine whether or not the flight control computer is attempting to recover the aircraft from the out-of-flight-envelope situation. If the flight control computer is perceived as attempting to recover the aircraft from the out-of-flight-envelope situation, the flight control computer is permitted to continue controlling the aircraft. Otherwise, the excursion outside of the normal flight envelope is perceives as potentially having been caused by a residual error and the flight control computer is prevented from continuing to control the aircraft.

Abstract: A system and method for actuating one or more high-lift flight control surfaces of an aircraft are disclosed. The system comprises actuators operatively coupled between a driveline and one or more high-lift flight control surfaces associated with a wing of the aircraft. The actuators are configured to cause actuation of the one or more first high-lift flight control surfaces in response to being driven by the first driveline. Each actuator is associated with a no-back device configured to prevent an air load on the one or more high-lift flight control surfaces from driving the one or more high-lift flight control surfaces. The system also comprises a backup brake applicable to the driveline. The backup brake can be applied upon the identification of a developing unsafe condition such as an asymmetry condition between the flight control surfaces of each wing of the aircraft or an uncommanded movement the flight control surfaces.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for assisting a flight crew with (e.g., pre-flight) functional testing of aircraft systems are disclosed. An aircraft condition can be used to select one or more functional tests that are applicable based on the aircraft condition. The aircraft condition can be used to initiate the execution of the one or more applicable selected functional tests. The aircraft condition can also be used to identify the one or more functional tests that are applicable on a display device so as to guide the flight crew during the execution of the functional tests.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for alerting a crew of an aircraft or other mobile platform of a relevant condition associated with the aircraft are disclosed. One exemplary method comprises receiving data indicative of an existence of the relevant condition associated with the aircraft; receiving data indicative of a substantially real-time value of a dynamic parameter associated with the relevant condition; and displaying an awareness-enhancing indication associated with the relevant condition in a display area of the crew alerting system of the aircraft. The awareness-enhancing indication comprises a textual message and a supplemental indication indicative of the substantially real-time value of the dynamic parameter associated with the relevant condition. In various embodiments, the supplemental indication may be textual or graphical. The supplemental indication may also be indicative of a target value of the dynamic parameter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for varying excess thrust of an aircraft include: a first electric fan rotatable about a first axis for directing a first air flow along a first air flow path; and a second electric fan rotatable about a second axis different from the first axis for directing a second air flow along a second air flow path fluidly isolated from the first air flow path, wherein the first electric fan and the second electric fan are disposed radially about a roll axis of the aircraft and adjacent an aft end of the aircraft, and the first electric fan and the second electric fan are configured to intake boundary layer air to form the first air flow and the second air flow.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating an auxiliary power unit (APU) of an aircraft are described. The method comprises obtaining external environment parameters of the aircraft, determining an available output power for the APU as a function of the external environment parameters, and setting an overcurrent protection threshold of the APU to a level associated with the available output power.

Abstract: A disclosed method reduces a wave drag on an airfoil traveling at a speed. At least a portion of the airfoil is configured to be selectively moveable between a first position and a second position. The first position is a neutral position, and the second position generates a shock wave near to the leading edge of the airfoil. The method includes the steps of maintaining the airfoil in the first position when the speed is less than a first limit and moving the airfoil to the second position when the speed is greater than a first limit.

Abstract: A method for controlling lighting in an interior of an aircraft, a lighting control system, and computer program product. The method includes: determining a departure time adjusted for an offset from GMT at a departure location and an arrival time adjusted for an offset from GMT at an arrival location as epoch times; generating a flight time with GMT offsets based on subtracting the departure time from the arrival time; determining an FMS flight time representing the expected time that the aircraft will be in flight between the departure location and the arrival location; generating a simulation ratio modifier based on dividing the FMS flight time by the flight time with GMT offsets; applying the simulation ratio modifier to periods of a day to generate scaled durations for periods of the day in a lighting program; and applying the program to control the cabin lighting on the aircraft.

Abstract: An aircraft including a fuselage defining a cabin and baggage bay, engine compartments for receiving engines, an auxiliary power unit compartment for receiving an auxiliary power unit, and a fire suppression system including first and second reservoirs containing a fire suppressant. The reservoirs are each connected to all of the engine compartments for distribution of the fire suppressant thereto. The first reservoir is connected to only one of the auxiliary power unit compartment and baggage bay, and the second reservoir is connected to only the other of the auxiliary power unit compartment and baggage bay. A fire suppression system for an aircraft and a method of connecting a fire suppression system of an aircraft are also discussed.

Abstract: Systems and methods useful in providing equivalent visual operation (EVO) for the flight crew of an aircraft independent of the actual outside weather and visibility conditions through the use of synthetic vision (SV) and enhanced vision (EV) technologies are described. The systems and methods described herein can contribute toward gaining an operational credit that can expand the operational capabilities of an aircraft. The systems and methods described herein can provide relatively simple and intuitive solutions for activating and operating such systems.

Abstract: A blended wing body aircraft having an interior cabin with a usable volume of at most 4500 ft3 and a cabin aspect ratio of at most 4, wherein a combination of the wings and center body has a wetted aspect ratio of at least 1.7 and at most 2.8. Also, a blended wing body aircraft having an interior cabin with a usable volume of at least 1500 ft3 and at most 4500 ft3 and a cabin aspect ratio of at least 2 and at most 4, wherein a combination of the wings and center body has a wetted aspect ratio of at least 1.9 and at most 2.7. Also, a blended wing body aircraft wherein at least each profile section having normalized half-span values from 0 to 0.3 has a leading edge having a normalized height having a nominal value within the range set forth in Table 4.

Abstract: An insert for an air intake of a suction duct, the insert including an inner portion configured to extend within the suction duct, a mating portion configured for sealingly engaging the air intake, and an outer portion configured for extending outside of the suction duct. The inner portion includes a conduit having a central axis extending along an inlet direction at the inlet end and along an outlet direction at the outlet end, the inlet and outlet directions being non-parallel. The outlet end has a smaller cross-sectional area than that of the suction duct. The insert includes an inlet in fluid communication with the inlet end of the conduit. The outer portion includes a curved lip surrounding at least part of an inlet opening of the inlet, the lip configured to direct a flow into the inlet opening and toward the inlet end of the conduit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a bank angle, a heading angle and an altitude of an aircraft during flight are provided. The methods and systems disclosed herein make use of sliding mode control and feedback linearization control (nonlinear dynamic control) techniques. The methods and systems can provide autopilot-type functions that can autonomously execute aggressive maneuvers as well as more gentle maneuvers for aircraft.

Abstract: A method of and a system for operating a fuel pump management system of an aircraft. The method comprises receiving, from a fuel gauge, an electronic reading of a level of fuel fluid contained in a fuel tank; and analysing the electronic reading of the level of the fuel fluid, the analysing comprising upon determining that the level of fuel fluid is equal or below a predetermined fuel level threshold, causing a fuel pump in communication with the fuel tank to be shut down.

Abstract: A crew alerting system for a mobile platform includes a display device defining a display area, a processor operatively coupled to the display device, and a memory storing instructions that cause the processor to: upon receiving notification of an occurrence of a manual system configuration associated with the mobile platform, generate a first output for causing the display device to display a first indication in the display area, the first indication comprising a first textual message. The processor is further configured to, upon receiving notification of an occurrence of an automated system configuration associated with the mobile platform, generate a second output for causing the display device to display a second indication in the display area, the second indication comprising a second textual message accompanied by a supplemental indication such as a graphical indication.

Abstract: Trailing edge assemblies, couplers and methods for deploying a trailing edge flap of an aircraft wing are disclosed. An exemplary method disclosed herein comprises guiding an aft portion of the trailing edge flap along an elongated track member as the trailing edge flap moves toward the deployed position; guiding a forward portion of the trailing edge flap along the elongated track member as the trailing edge flap moves toward the deployed position; and accommodating transverse movement of the forward portion of the trailing edge flap relative to the elongated track member.

Abstract: A noise attenuating device for reducing acoustic resonance in a cavity of an aircraft with an opening in a skin of the aircraft defining a first surface area and an opening peripheral edge includes a connection mechanism for securing the noise attenuating device in proximity to the opening in the skin of the aircraft and an exterior surface. The exterior surface defines a second surface area that is less than the first surface area of the opening and a device peripheral edge, which has a first section having an edge profile complimentary to at least a portion of the opening peripheral edge and a second section having an indented edge profile in relation to the first section such that when the noise attenuating device is secured within the opening, at least one gap is formed between the device peripheral edge and the opening peripheral edge.

Abstract: Assemblies and methods for facilitating the assembly of aircraft wings to a fuselage are disclosed. In some embodiments, a wing unit includes features that are configured to define one of more parts of a pressure vessel that is partially defined by the fuselage portion. In some embodiments, the aircraft assemblies disclosed herein comprise one or more first structural interfaces that permit positional adjustment between the wing unit and the fuselage portion so that one or more second structural interfaces may be finished only after such positional adjustment. In some embodiments, the aircraft assemblies disclosed herein comprise one or more structural interfaces that are disposed outside of the wing unit in order to eliminate or reduce the need for assembly personnel to access the interior of the wing unit to carry out the structural assembly of the wing unit to the fuselage portion.

Abstract: Airstair systems and associated methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, the airstair has a deployable upper step, a primary deployment device and a secondary deployment device. The upper step is movable between a stowed configuration when a door of the aircraft is closed and a deployed configuration when the door is open. The primary deployment device resiliently biases the upper step toward the deployed configuration. The secondary deployment device is movable in coordination with a movement of the door and configured to drive the deployable upper step toward the deployed configuration during opening of the door and during a failure of the primary deployment device.