APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE VERTICAL PROFILE OF AN AIRCRAFT

In an aircraft, there is included a Flight Management System (FMS), Autopilot and Autothrottle for controlling the aircraft. The apparatus has a plurality of outputs for definition of the real-time targets, controlled by the Autopilot and Autothrottle, to guide the vertical position of the aircraft to a desired vertical position along the desired vertical flightplan (or profile) according to a set of operational procedures. The FMS includes an apparatus that comprises an element which provides information denoting actual vertical position of the aircraft, and an element which generates information specifying the desired vertical position of the aircraft along the predetermined desired flightplan. Further, the apparatus determines the actual vertical position and desired vertical position to generate the real-time targets and modes for the Autopilot and Autothrottle, to achieve the predetermined desired flightplan from takeoff climb-out, through terminal-area and enroute area climb, cruise, descent and initial approach. This processor apparatus includes a unique decision construct control law to automate the selection of the appropriate operational procedure and the subsequent determination of the targets and modes.