Device and method for estimating a side-slip angle of an aircraft

1. A device for estimating a side-slip angle (β e ) of an aircraft moving in the air, comprising:

means for receiving a measured side-slip angle (β l ) presented locally by the air relative to the aircraft; and

means for determining the side-slip angle (β e ) of the aircraft as a function of the measured side-slip angle (β l ) and of an information item about an angle of incidence (α) of the aircraft.

2. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the means for determining the side-slip angle (β e ) of the aircraft includes means for multiplying the measured angle (β l ) by a first factor that depends on the incidence information item (α).

3. A device according to claim 2 , wherein the means for determining the side-slip angle (β e ) of the aircraft includes means for adding a second factor that depends on the incidence information item (α).

4. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the means for determining the side-slip angle (β e ) of the aircraft includes means for reading the side-slip angle (β e ) of the aircraft in a correspondence table having at least the measured angle (β l ) and the incidence information item (α) as entries.

5. A device according to claim 4 , further comprising:

means for selecting said correspondence table as a function of an information item (CONFIG) indicative of the configuration of lift devices of the aircraft.

6. A device according to claim 4 , wherein a plurality of correspondence tables are stored in a memory.

7. A device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a side-slip sensor including a vane positioned in a local airflow, wherein said measured side-slip angle is formed between the airflow and a fuselage axis of the aircraft projected onto a horizontal plane.

8. A device according to claim 7 , wherein two or more side-slip sensors each measure a side-slip angle (β l ) presented locally by the air relative to the aircraft, and an average signal of the two or more measured side-slip angles (β l ) is determined.

9. A method for estimating a side-slip angle (β e ) of an aircraft moving in the air, the method comprising:

measuring, using a side-slip sensor, a side-slip angle (β l ) presented locally by the air relative to the aircraft;

determining, using a correction module, the side-slip angle (β e ) of the aircraft as a function of the measured angle (β l ) and of an information item about an angle of incidence (α) of the aircraft.

10. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the step of determining the side-slip angle (β e ) of the aircraft includes multiplying the measured angle (β l ) by a first factor that depends on the incidence information item (α).

11. A method according to claim 10 , wherein the step of determining the side-slip angle (β e ) of the aircraft includes adding a second factor that depends on the incidence information item (α).

12. A method according to claim 9 , wherein the step of determining the side-slip angle (β e ) of the aircraft includes reading the side-slip angle (β e ) of the aircraft in a correspondence table having at least the measured angle (β l ) and the incidence information item (α) as entries.

13. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising:

selecting said correspondence table as a function of an information item (CONFIG) indicative of the configuration of the lift devices of the aircraft.

14. A method according to claim 9 , wherein said measured side-slip angle is formed between a vane of a side-slip sensor positioned in an airflow and a fuselage axis of the aircraft projected onto a horizontal plane.

15. A method according to claim 14 , wherein two or more side-slip sensors each measure a side-slip angle (β l ) presented locally by the air relative to the aircraft, and an average signal of the two or more measured side-slip angles (β l ) is determined.

16. A method according to claim 9 , wherein a plurality of correspondence tables are stored in a memory.