System and method for computing mach number and true airspeed

摘要

A system and method are provided for calculating Mach number and true airspeed without reference to data from a pitot static sensor. The true airspeed and Mach number are calculated using the altitude information from GPS, IRS, Radio Altimeter and other onboard sensors other than the air data computer (ADC). The computed true airspeed or Mach number could be used to confirm the ADC information or in lieu of the ADC information when the ADC information is unreliable or unavailable.

主权项

1. A method for determining at least one of a first true airspeed or a first Mach number of an aircraft in flight, comprising:
sensing an air velocity and a first altitude by a pitot static sensor; providing at least one of a second true airspeed and a second Mach number by an air data computer coupled to the pitot static sensor and in response to the air velocity and the first altitude; storing within a storage medium standard atmospheric data, thrust data, wing surface area, and a coefficient of lift for the aircraft; determining by a flight management system a load factor and a weight of the aircraft; determining a second altitude by an altitude sensor; determining an angle of attack by a sensor on the aircraft; sensing a temperature of the air adjacent the aircraft; and determining, from the group consisting of the standard atmospheric data, the thrust data, the wing surface area, the coefficient of lift, the load factor, the weight, the second altitude, the temperature, and the angle of attack, at least one of the first true airspeed or first Mach number, by a processor coupled to the storage medium, the flight management system, the altitude sensor, and the temperature sensor.