Enhancing the Glide Performance of Advanced Air Mobility Aircraft

Abstract

Verbatim from Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

Information pertaining to an airplane’s engine-out glide performance is required by federal regulation to be included in the pilots operating handbook (POH). The minimum required pieces of information are the distance the airplane is able to cover over the ground for a given altitude lost (i.e. glide ratio) and the airspeed necessary to do so . POHs typically include for maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) only. Many pilots do not know that changes with weight and/or how to adjust it for weight. An even lesser-known piece of glide performance information is the optimum bank angle necessary to maximize glide range when a gliding turn is required. Recent research discovered optimum for engine-out gliding turns to safe landing locations at different bearings, from different altitudes, and for airplanes with different aerodynamic characteristics. This information can be included in pilot training materials, POHs, and in digital avionics and electronic flight aids. Inclusion of this information in all three of these areas would better equip pilots of traditional, piloted airplanes; pilots of advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft; and designers of autonomous, uncrewed AAM aircraft. Information on determining optimum s for engine-out gliding turns will be presented.

Author

• Callender, Mark N Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• Optimum bank angle
• glide performance
• engine-out
• Advanced Air Mobility
• Navigation, Guidance, Control and Dynamics