An emergency descent system for turbocharged piston engine powered aircraft. The flight management system is configured to challenge the pilot after a period of inactivity. Acknowledgment from the pilot resets the timer for subsequent challenge. Lack of timely pilot response sets off an alarm sequence. Lack of response to the alarm sequence sets off emergency descent by way of control by the flight management system of rate of descent, heading, ground track, and engine power by adjustment to the wastegate to the turbocharger. The control by the flight management system may incorporate direct control of the aircraft airspeed in the descent, and that may be enhanced by engine power adjustments. Upon reaching a selected target altitude, the aircraft engine power may be restored via the adjustment of the wastegate controller. At any time, when the pilot regains useful consciousness, the entire emergency descent sequence may be interrupted and normal control restored by the pilot. Additionally, the system may be configured to reset the aircraft transponder to an alarm code, in the event that the emergency descent sequence is initiated.
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