AUTOMATIC DECELERATION OF AIRCRAFT DURING DESCENT

Deceleration control apparatus for an aircraft having an automatic altitude capture and hold system and an airspeed hold system, both systems controlled by controlling pitch attitude wherein during a descent from a higher altitude under airspeed-on-pitch control with throttle set at idle thrust, and at some existing negative altitude rate, a slower speed is commanded, a synthetic altitude based on the existing descent rate is computed and the attitude capture and hold system operation is switched into control in place of the airspeed on pitch control to cause the aircraft to flare toward the synthetic altitude. The resultant loss of airspeed, i.e., craft deceleration, during the altitude capture flare is monitored and when the commanded airspeed reduction is achieved, the airspeed-on-pitch control is resumed to thereby hold the commanded lower airspeed.