US 12,466,569 B2
Method for controlling a multi-engine rotary-wing aircraft with reduced fuel consumption on the ground
Bernard Krier, Carry-Le-Rouet (FR); and Ivan Chassagne, Franqueville-St-Pierre (FR)
Assigned to AIRBUS HELICOPTERS, Marignane (FR)
Filed by AIRBUS HELICOPTERS, Marignane (FR)
Filed on Feb. 14, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/441,489.
Claims priority of application No. 2303657 (FR), filed on Apr. 13, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0343404 A1, Oct. 17, 2024
Int. Cl. B64D 31/04 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 31/04 (2013.01) 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for controlling an aircraft with a rotary wing, the aircraft having a power plant comprising at least two engines burning fuel and a transmission system connected to the rotary wing, each engine having a power shaft connected to the transmission system, the method comprising an energy-saving phase applicable on the ground and comprising at least one energy-saving period, this energy-saving period comprising controlling, at an active rating, with a control system, one active engine from the at least two engines, in order to ensure rotation of the rotary wing, the active engine producing, at the active rating and with its power shaft, a non-zero active driving power, the energy-saving period comprising, together with the control of the active engine at the active rating, use of the control system to stop or control, at an inactive rating, each inactive engine from the at least two engines that is not the active engine, the inactive engine at the inactive rating producing, with its power shaft, a non-zero power that is less than the active driving power or zero power,
wherein the energy-saving phase comprises at least two alternating operating phases, each alternating operating phase comprising an energy-saving period and a joint operation period, the joint operation period comprising controlling the engines at the active rating with the control system.