AIRCRAFT FLIGHT

CONTROL SYSTEM

Types of Flight Control linkages

Mechanical

Hydraulic-Mechanical (Power actuated System)

FBW / DFBW

Mechanical Control

Push Pull Rod system

Cable Pulley system

PUSH-PULL ROD SYSTEM

Components

TURN BUCKLES
BELL CRANCK LEVER

FAIRLEADS
TORQUE
TUBE

MECHNICAL FIGHT CONTROL

SYSTEM

SERVO TABS

Power Actuated System

When pilots action is not directly sufficient for actuating the control,
power system is required to assist the pilot.

HYDRAULIC SYSTEM has demonstrated more suitable solution for

actuation, with respect to electric system.

OPERATION OF POWER ASSISTED CONTROL SYSTEM

Pilot send the signal (demand) to a valve that open ports through
which high pressure fluid flows and operates the actuator.

The valve , that is located near the actuator is signaled

mechanically (Push-pull/Cable pulley).

Contd.

Two aspects must be notice when powered control is introduced:

The system must control the surface in a proportional way.

The pilot with little effort acts on a control valve must have a
feedback on the maneuver intensity.

The above aspects are solved by using hydraulic servomechanics, where the components are linked in hydraulic circuit
in such a way to introduce actuator stroke in proportional to pilots
demand.

Since pilot is no more aware of the loads imposed on the surfaces

of the aircraft, an ARTIFICIAL FEEL SYSTEM is introduced acting
directly on the cabin control stick or pedal.

Disadvantages of Mechanical & Hydro-Mech

System

Heavy and require careful routing of flight control cables.

Redundant backup will result in increase weight.

Limited ability to compensate.

FLY-BY-WIRE SYSTEM

Introduction

Electrically signaled control system.

Computer configured control

Modification in manual input of the pilot according to control

parameters.

This architecture is based on computer signal processing.

Operation

Pilots demand is transduced into electrical signal and sent to a

group of independent computers.

The computers sample the data concerning the following :

Flight conditions

Servo valve position

Actuator position

Then the pilots demand is processed and sent to the actuator.

Flight Data

Redundancy of system

The full system has high redundancy to restore the level of

reliability of a mechanical or hydraulic system in the form of
multiple(triplex or quadruplex ) parallel and independent lanes to
generate and transmit the signals and independent computers
to process them.

Advantages

Improved flight Safety

Reduced pilot workload

Reduction of mechanical parts

Real time monitoring of all aircraft system.

Flight envelope protection

Turbulent suppression and consequent decrease of fatigue loads

Drag reduction by an optimized trim setting

Benefits for Operator

Weight Saving

Lower Maintenance cost

Greater precision in flying

Aircraft is kept within the flight protection envelope.

Thus the pilot always can get the maximum performance out of
the aircraft without running the risk of exceeding safety margins.

Today

Fly-by-wire has now become the industry standard.

large majority of pilots praising the handling qualities

It is installed, from the companys smallest aircraft the A318

to its double-deck A380 and new-generation A350 XWB.