Device and method for assisting in the management of an engine failure on an aircraft

1. A method for assisting in the management of an engine failure on a multi-engine aircraft, according to which method the engines of said aircraft are monitored during a flight in such a manner as to be able to detect the engine failure, wherein, when the engine failure is detected during the flight, the method comprises automatically carrying out the following series of successive steps:

a) determining current values of parameters relating to flight conditions of the aircraft, together with values of basic parameters of the aircraft;

b) generating a flight strategy which is configured to be applied to the aircraft to enable the aircraft to fly to a destination airport;

c) determining, using said current values and values determined in step a) and said flight strategy, vectoring settings comprising speed, thrust and altitude settings which are configured to be implemented on the aircraft so as to enable the aircraft to fly to said destination airport; and

d) transmitting the speed, thrust and altitude settings to a system configured to automatically implement the speed, thrust and altitude settings on the aircraft,

wherein said flight strategy is a strategy selected by an operator or, when is no selection, a default strategy,

wherein step c) further comprises, in order to determine said vectoring settings, carrying out the following operations:

c1) calculating an altitude which is characteristic of the flight strategy;

c2) calculating at least one speed parameter which is characteristic of said flight strategy;

c3) comparing an effective altitude of the aircraft when the engine failure occurs with the altitude which is characteristic of the flight strategy and, depending on a result of the comparison, determining first speed, thrust and altitude settings to enable the aircraft to reach said characteristic altitude;

c4) determining second speed, thrust and altitude settings to enable the aircraft to follow a cruising flight at said characteristic altitude toward said destination airport using said at least one speed parameter; and

c5) determining third speed, thrust and altitude settings to enable the aircraft to descend in order to land at said destination airport,

wherein said first, second and third speed, thrust and altitude settings form said vectoring settings, and

wherein the default strategy is stored in a database and comprises an obstacle clearance strategy which enables the altitude of the aircraft to be maximized.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said parameters relating to the flight conditions comprise at least the speed and the altitude of the aircraft.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said basic parameters comprise at least the mass and the type of the aircraft and the external temperature.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 ,

wherein step b) comprises generating one of the following flight strategies:

a standard strategy which comprises flying the aircraft so as to minimize fuel consumption;

a strategy with minimum flight time which comprises flying the aircraft at a highest possible speed; and

the obstacle clearance strategy which comprises flying the aircraft as high as possible.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein step d) further comprises only transmitting the vectoring settings that have been validated beforehand using a validation unit which is configured to be actuated by an operator.

6. A device for assisting in the management of an engine failure on a multi-engine aircraft, said device comprising a first unit to automatically detect, during a flight of the multi-engine aircraft, a failure of an engine of said aircraft, wherein said device additionally comprises:

a second unit to automatically determine, when the engine failure is detected by said first unit, current values of parameters relating to flight conditions of the aircraft, together with values of basic parameters of the aircraft;

a third unit to automatically generate a flight strategy configured to be applied to the aircraft to enable the aircraft to fly to a destination airport;

a fourth unit to automatically determine, using said current values and values determined by said second unit and said flight strategy generated by said third unit, vectoring settings comprising speed, thrust and altitude settings configured to be implemented on the aircraft so as to enable the aircraft to fly to said destination airport; and

a fifth unit to automatically transmit said speed, thrust and altitude settings to a system configured to automatically implement the speed, thrust and altitude settings on the aircraft,

wherein said flight strategy is a strategy selected by an operator or, when there is no selection, a default strategy,

wherein, in order to determine said vectoring settings, the fourth unit is further configured to:

calculate an altitude which is characteristic of the flight strategy;

calculate at least one speed parameter which is characteristic of said flight strategy;

compare an effective altitude of the aircraft when the engine failure occurs with the altitude which is characteristic of the flight strategy and, depending on a result of the comparison, determine first speed, thrust and altitude settings to enable the aircraft to reach said characteristic altitude;

determine second speed, thrust and altitude settings to enable the aircraft to follow a cruising flight at said characteristic altitude toward said destination airport using said at least one speed parameter; and

determine third speed, thrust and altitude settings to enable the aircraft to descend in order to land at said destination airport,

wherein said first, second and third speed, thrust and altitude settings form said vectoring settings, and

wherein the default strategy is stored in a database and comprises an obstacle clearance strategy which enables the altitude of the aircraft to be maximized.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6 ,

wherein said device additionally comprises a selection unit configured to enable an operator to select the flight strategy.

8. The device as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said device additionally comprises said system configured to automatically implement said speed, thrust and altitude settings.

9. An aircraft, comprising a device assisting in the management of an engine failure on a multi-engine aircraft, said device comprising a first unit to automatically detect, during a flight of the multi-engine aircraft, a failure of an engine of said aircraft, wherein said device additionally comprises:

a second unit to automatically determine, when the engine failure is detected by said first unit, current values of parameters relating to flight conditions of the aircraft, together with values of basic parameters of the aircraft;

a third unit to automatically generate a flight strategy configured to be applied to the aircraft to enable the aircraft to fly to a destination airport;

a fourth unit to automatically determine, using said current values and values determined by said second unit and said flight strategy generated by said third unit, vectoring settings comprising speed, thrust and altitude settings configured to be implemented on the aircraft so as to enable the aircraft to fly to said destination airport; and

a fifth unit to automatically transmit said speed, thrust and altitude settings to a system configured to automatically implement the speed, thrust and altitude settings on the aircraft,

wherein said flight strategy is a strategy selected by an operator or, when there is no selection, a default strategy,

wherein, in order to determine said vectoring settings, the fourth unit is further configured to:

calculate an altitude which is characteristic of the flight strategy;

calculate at least one speed parameter which is characteristic of said flight strategy;

compare an effective altitude of the aircraft when the engine failure occurs with the altitude which is characteristic of the flight strategy and, depending on a result of the comparison, determine first speed, thrust and altitude settings to enable the aircraft to reach said characteristic altitude;

determine second speed, thrust and altitude settings to enable the aircraft to follow a cruising flight at said characteristic altitude toward said destination airport using said at least one speed parameter; and

determine third speed, thrust and altitude settings to enable the aircraft to descend in order to land at said destination airport,

wherein said first, second and third speed, thrust and altitude settings form said vectoring settings, and

wherein the default strategy is stored in a database and comprises an obstacle clearance strategy which enables the altitude of the aircraft to be maximized.