Purpose The paper aims to present an idea of automatic control algorithms dedicated to both small manned and unmanned aircraft, capable to perform spin maneuver automatically. This is a case of maneuver far away from so-called standard flight. The character of this maneuver and the range of aircraft flight parameters changes restrict application of standard control algorithms. Possibility of acquisition full information about aircraft flight parameters is limited as well in such cases. This paper analyses an alternative solution that can be applied in some specific cases. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses theoretical discussion and breakdowns to create basics for development of structures of control algorithms. Simplified analytical approach was applied to tune regulators. Results of research were verified in series of software-in-the loop, computer simulations. Findings The structure of the control system enabling aerobatic flight (spin flight as example selected) was found and the method how to tune regulators was presented as well. Practical implications It could be a fundament for autopilots working in non-conventional flight states and aircraft automatic recovery systems. Originality/value The paper presents author’s original approach to aircraft automatic control when high control precision is not the priority, and not all flight parameters can be precisely measured.

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Purpose The purpose of this study is to provide an alternative graph-based airspace model for more effective free-route flight planning. Design/methodology/approach Based on graph theory and available data sets describing airspace, as well as weather phenomena, a new FRA model is proposed. The model is applied for near to optimal flight route finding. The software tool developed during the study and complexity analysis proved the applicability and timed effectivity of the flight planning approach. Findings The sparse bidirectional graph with edges connecting only (geographically) closest neighbours can naturally model local airspace and weather phenomena. It can be naturally applied to effective near to optimal flight route planning. Research limitations/implications Practical results were acquired for one country airspace model. Practical implications More efficient and applicable flight planning methodology was introduced. Social implications Aircraft following the new routes will fly shorter trajectories, which positively influence on the natural environment, flight time and fuel consumption. Originality/value The airspace model proposed is based on standard mathematical backgrounds. However, it includes the original airspace and weather mapping idea, as well as it enables to shorten flight planning computations.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe simulation research carried out for the needs of multi-sensor anti-collision system for light aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents an analysis related to the practical possibilities of detecting intruders in the air space with the use of optoelectronic sensors. The theoretical part determines the influence of the angle of view, distance from the intruder and the resolution of the camera on the ability to detect objects with different linear dimensions. It has been assumed that the detection will be effective for objects represented by at least four pixels (arranged in a line) on the sensor matrix. In the main part devoted to simulation studies, the theoretical data was compared to the obtained intruders’ images. The verified simulation environment was then applied to the image processing algorithms developed for the anti-collision system. Findings A simulation environment was obtained enabling reliable tests of the anti-collision system using optoelectronic sensors. Practical implications The integration of unmanned aircraft operations in civil airspace is a serious problem on a global scale. Equipping aircraft with autonomous anti-collision systems can help solve key problems. The use of simulation techniques in the process of testing anti-collision systems allows the implementation of test scenarios that may be burdened with too much risk in real flights. Social implications This paper aims for possible improvement of safety in light-sport aviation. Originality/value This paper conducts verification of classic flight simulator software suitability for carrying out anti-collision systems tests and development of a flight simulator platform dedicated to such tests.

Small Air Transport (SAT) is emerging as suitable transportation means in order to allow efficient travel over a regional range, in particular for commuters, based on the use of small airports and fixed wing aircraft with 5 to 19 seats, belonging to the EASA CS-23 category. The affordability of the SAT industry needs to be supported by the availability of new technological solutions allowing reducing the related operational costs while at the same time maintaining the required flight safety levels. In this framework, Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking funded the project COAST (Cost Optimized Avionics SysTem), which started in 2016 with the aim of tackling this challenge and delivering key technology enablers for the affordable cockpit and avionics, while also enabling the single pilot operations for small aircraft. The project activities cover several technologies and, among them, some selected ones, specifically addressing flight management, are considered in this paper, whose aim is the one of providing an outline of the design and implementation process status reached up to date, emphasizing the obtained results and the work to be done in the future activities expected to be performed in the project. The selected technologies here considered are the ones of tactical traffic separation and enhanced situational awareness, meteorological enhanced awareness, and pilot’s incapacitation emergency management. The paper, therefore, focuses on a selected cluster, from the overall framework of the COAST project, of SAT single pilot operations enabling technologies: Tactical Separation System (TSS), Flight Reconfiguration System (FRS), and Advanced Weather Awareness System (AWAS). In the paper, a description is first reported of the overall COAST project objectives, motivations and approach to the SAT vehicles cockpit design. Then, the implemented design process is outlined and the description of each of the above-indicated selected technologies is presented (the additional technologies considered in the COAST project are out of the scope of this paper). Based on that, for each of the considered systems (TSS, FRS, AWAS) the status of the design and implementation process is described and the next steps expected to be implemented in the project are outlined.