CPC B64D 15/166 (2013.01) [B64D 13/02 (2013.01); B64D 13/06 (2013.01); B64D 15/20 (2013.01); B64D 37/32 (2013.01); G05D 1/0676 (2013.01); B64D 2013/0603 (2013.01)] | 14 Claims |
1. A method for operating an aircraft during a final approach phase of flight of the aircraft, the method comprising:
receiving a signal indicative of an approach type to be executed by the aircraft;
when the approach type to be executed by the aircraft is a steep final approach:
after receiving the signal indicative of the approach type to be executed by the aircraft, reducing an amount of pressurized air being supplied from an engine of the aircraft to one or more pneumatic loads other than an ice protection system of the aircraft;
operating the engine at a first idle speed during the steep final approach; and
operating the ice protection system during the steep final approach by supplying pressurized air extracted from the engine to the ice protection system of the aircraft;
when the approach type to be executed by the aircraft is a non-steep final approach, operating the engine of the aircraft at a second idle speed during the non-steep final approach,
wherein:
the steep final approach is steeper than the non-steep final approach;
the first idle speed of the engine used during the steep final approach is lower than the second idle speed of the engine used during the non-steep final approach;
the one or more pneumatic loads other than the ice protection system include an environmental control system of the aircraft that is operable in a lower-flow mode of operation and in a higher-flow mode of operation; and
the method comprises inhibiting an operation of the environmental control system in the higher-flow mode of operation during the steep final approach.
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