Experimental advanced RNP to xLS approaches with vertical path coding and automatic landings

摘要

We report on the flight test results of an Airbus 320 during novel advanced required navigation performance (RNP) procedures which contain a fixed radius turn that delivers the aircraft onto a short instrument landing system (ILS) precision final. Moreover, the advanced RNP part contains altitude constraints and/or a coded vertical path angle. The approaches were flown automatically with guidance and autothrust as computed by the flight management system. We investigated the use of the fixed radius in conjunction with vertical path options onto (a) the performance of the speed profile for arrival time optimisation, (b) the vertical path during the RNP part of the procedure and (c) the performance of the autoland capability after a curved transition onto an ILS.