Abstract: An aircraft includes an aircraft engine, a starter motor, an engine fuel delivery system, an engine ignition system, and a controller communicatively coupled to the starter motor, engine fuel delivery system, and engine ignition system. The controller is configured to automatically initiate operation of the starter motor as needed to start the aircraft engine while the aircraft engine is not running. Optionally, the controller may be configured to execute operations in accordance with either or both of two modes of operation. In the first mode, the controller automatically initiates operation of the starter motor for an aircraft engine that is not running while the aircraft is in flight. In the second mode, the controller automatically initiates operation of the starter motor for an aircraft engine that is not running while the aircraft is on ground. These operations can be done by a single, multi-position control.