Summary of perspectives in active sidesticks development for small aircraft fly-by-wire systems

Abstract

The use of passive sidesticks in large transport aircraft equipped with Fly-By-Wire (FBW) has shown several problems related to the lack of force feedback. In the context of the current trend to find ways of introducing FBW systems also in small general aviation and future Urban Air Mobility vehicles, it will be necessary to address, how to control these machines and whether the adoption of passive controls from transport aircraft will be acceptable. This paper summarizes the benefits and challenges associated with the potential application of active sidestick in future small FBW aircraft.