Flight management system back-up navigation for the A330/A340aircraft

摘要

Presents the architecture and functional operation of themulti-purpose control display unit (MCDU) back-up navigation used on theA330/A340 MCDU aircraft. Its purpose and capability in playing a keyrole on the A330/A340 for providing navigational back-up and equipmentredundancy are explored. The A330/A340 flight management system isembedded in two flight management and guidance and envelope computers(FMGECs) and the triple redundant MCDU. At any one time two of the MCDUsare used to interface with the two FMGECs. The third MCDU can beswitched into either position in case of an MCDU failure. In addition,two of the MCDUs have the capability to provide back-up navigation incase of loss of the FM function from the FMGECs