Purpose The paper aims to present an idea of automatic control algorithms dedicated to both small manned and unmanned aircraft, capable to perform spin maneuver automatically. This is a case of maneuver far away from so-called standard flight. The character of this maneuver and the range of aircraft flight parameters changes restrict application of standard control algorithms. Possibility of acquisition full information about aircraft flight parameters is limited as well in such cases. This paper analyses an alternative solution that can be applied in some specific cases. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses theoretical discussion and breakdowns to create basics for development of structures of control algorithms. Simplified analytical approach was applied to tune regulators. Results of research were verified in series of software-in-the loop, computer simulations. Findings The structure of the control system enabling aerobatic flight (spin flight as example selected) was found and the method how to tune regulators was presented as well. Practical implications It could be a fundament for autopilots working in non-conventional flight states and aircraft automatic recovery systems. Originality/value The paper presents author’s original approach to aircraft automatic control when high control precision is not the priority, and not all flight parameters can be precisely measured.

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Purpose The purpose of this study is to provide an alternative graph-based airspace model for more effective free-route flight planning. Design/methodology/approach Based on graph theory and available data sets describing airspace, as well as weather phenomena, a new FRA model is proposed. The model is applied for near to optimal flight route finding. The software tool developed during the study and complexity analysis proved the applicability and timed effectivity of the flight planning approach. Findings The sparse bidirectional graph with edges connecting only (geographically) closest neighbours can naturally model local airspace and weather phenomena. It can be naturally applied to effective near to optimal flight route planning. Research limitations/implications Practical results were acquired for one country airspace model. Practical implications More efficient and applicable flight planning methodology was introduced. Social implications Aircraft following the new routes will fly shorter trajectories, which positively influence on the natural environment, flight time and fuel consumption. Originality/value The airspace model proposed is based on standard mathematical backgrounds. However, it includes the original airspace and weather mapping idea, as well as it enables to shorten flight planning computations.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe simulation research carried out for the needs of multi-sensor anti-collision system for light aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents an analysis related to the practical possibilities of detecting intruders in the air space with the use of optoelectronic sensors. The theoretical part determines the influence of the angle of view, distance from the intruder and the resolution of the camera on the ability to detect objects with different linear dimensions. It has been assumed that the detection will be effective for objects represented by at least four pixels (arranged in a line) on the sensor matrix. In the main part devoted to simulation studies, the theoretical data was compared to the obtained intruders’ images. The verified simulation environment was then applied to the image processing algorithms developed for the anti-collision system. Findings A simulation environment was obtained enabling reliable tests of the anti-collision system using optoelectronic sensors. Practical implications The integration of unmanned aircraft operations in civil airspace is a serious problem on a global scale. Equipping aircraft with autonomous anti-collision systems can help solve key problems. The use of simulation techniques in the process of testing anti-collision systems allows the implementation of test scenarios that may be burdened with too much risk in real flights. Social implications This paper aims for possible improvement of safety in light-sport aviation. Originality/value This paper conducts verification of classic flight simulator software suitability for carrying out anti-collision systems tests and development of a flight simulator platform dedicated to such tests.

Small Air Transport (SAT) is emerging as suitable transportation means in order to allow efficient travel over a regional range, in particular for commuters, based on the use of small airports and fixed wing aircraft with 5 to 19 seats, belonging to the EASA CS-23 category. The affordability of the SAT industry needs to be supported by the availability of new technological solutions allowing reducing the related operational costs while at the same time maintaining the required flight safety levels. In this framework, Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking funded the project COAST (Cost Optimized Avionics SysTem), which started in 2016 with the aim of tackling this challenge and delivering key technology enablers for the affordable cockpit and avionics, while also enabling the single pilot operations for small aircraft. The project activities cover several technologies and, among them, some selected ones, specifically addressing flight management, are considered in this paper, whose aim is the one of providing an outline of the design and implementation process status reached up to date, emphasizing the obtained results and the work to be done in the future activities expected to be performed in the project. The selected technologies here considered are the ones of tactical traffic separation and enhanced situational awareness, meteorological enhanced awareness, and pilot’s incapacitation emergency management. The paper, therefore, focuses on a selected cluster, from the overall framework of the COAST project, of SAT single pilot operations enabling technologies: Tactical Separation System (TSS), Flight Reconfiguration System (FRS), and Advanced Weather Awareness System (AWAS). In the paper, a description is first reported of the overall COAST project objectives, motivations and approach to the SAT vehicles cockpit design. Then, the implemented design process is outlined and the description of each of the above-indicated selected technologies is presented (the additional technologies considered in the COAST project are out of the scope of this paper). Based on that, for each of the considered systems (TSS, FRS, AWAS) the status of the design and implementation process is described and the next steps expected to be implemented in the project are outlined.

Purpose This paper aims to present a vision-based method for determination of the position of a fixed-wing aircraft that is approaching a runway. Design methodology/approach The method determines the location of an aircraft based on positions of precision approach path indicator lights and approach light system with sequenced flashing lights in the image captured by an on-board camera. Findings As the relation of the lighting systems to the touchdown area on the considered runway is known in advance, the detected lights, seen as glowing lines or highlighted areas, in the image can be mapped onto the real-world coordinates and then used to estimate the position of the aircraft. Furthermore, the colours of lights are detected and can be used as auxiliary information. Practical implications The presented method can be considered as a potential source of flight data for autonomous approach and for augmentation of manual approach. Originality/value In this paper, a feasibility study of this concept is presented and primarily validated.

Small Air Transport (SAT) is emerging as suitable transportation means to allow efficient travel over a regional range, in particular for commuters, based on the use of small airports and fixed-wing aircraft with 5 to 19 seats, belonging to the EASA CS-23 category. In this framework, Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking, in the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, funded the project COAST (Cost Optimized Avionics SysTem), which started in 2016 with the aim of delivering key technology enablers for the affordable cockpit and avionics, while also enabling single-pilot operations for aircraft in the SAT domain. In the project, some relevant flight management technologies to support single-pilot operations are considered, namely the ones of tactical traffic separation and enhanced situational awareness, meteorological enhanced awareness, and pilot’s incapacitation emergency management. These technologies have been subject to a dedicated design and implementation process, based on an individual approach where each of them has been considered as independent and dedicated single-pilot operations enabling technology. Nevertheless, during the project execution, it emerged the opportunity to consider proper integration and enhancement of such technologies to design a unique Integrated Mission Management System (IMMS). Such IMMS technology has been considered as a potential solution to support the more effective and safe management of situations of pilot’s incapacitation during the flight, under single-pilot operations, and as a relevant step forward towards more autonomous aircraft. Based on these considerations, Clean Sky supported and funded proper extension of the COAST project scope, to include the design of the additional Integrated Mission Management System. This paper, therefore, aims to outline the main concepts implemented by the baseline individual technologies (Flight Reconfiguration System, Tactical Separation System, and Advanced Weather Awareness System) already considered in the COAST project and representing the basic building blocks towards IMMS and, after that, aims to introduce the IMMS motivations and opportunities. Furthermore, the paper describes the main functionalities expected to be implemented by the Integrated Mission Management System and, finally, the expected design and implementation process.

This article describes some of tasks carried out as a part of an international project ERA (Enhanced RPAS Automation, RPAS -Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems). The works were focused on a control system for an optionally piloted aircraft MP-02 Czajka, especially on adapting the control system for piloting the aircraft in take-off and landing phases. The entry point was the control system built on using PID controllers in the aircraft. The quality of the control system was insufficient; especially for steering in critical flight states such as take-off and landing. The aim was to improve and fine-tune it to the object, which would allow to shorten time constants of the system, reduce overshoots and errors. It was decided to leave a general structure of a control algorithm based on PID controllers, however, it was extended with additional elements, among others blocks of additional damping, "fit forward" blocks and others. The article describes control laws and their modification as well as effects on steering in longitudinal motion, primarily an angle of pitch of the aircraft, as well as lateral movement, by controlling an angle of roll and a course of the aircraft.