Pilot Authority, Automated Help, and CFIT Avoidance Manoeuvres in FBW Aircraft

March 1, 1999

Synopsis Captain Ron Rogers of the Air Line Pilots Association has produced two reports evaluating the Controlled Flight Into Terrain avoidance manoeuvre in highly-automated transports, and assessing the trade-off between pilot authority and automatic manoeuvring of the fly-by-wire (FBW) aircraft (those with digitally-automated primary control systems). These two issues have been at the center of debate concerning FBW in commercial air transports. Flight Test Results of the Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) Avoidance Maneuver in Fly-By-Wire (FBW) Transports and Pilot Authority and Aircraft Protections are both by Captain Rogers and published by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).


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