Collective control stick mounted throttle control assembly

1. A helicopter, comprising:

at least one full authority digital engine controlled (FADEC) engine;

a FADEC device configured to control the FADEC engine;

a first two-position throttle switch disposed on a first collective control stick, the first two-position throttle switch being movable between a Fly position and an Idle position; and

a second two-position throttle switch disposed on a second collective control stick, the second two-position throttle switch being movable between a Fly position and an Idle position wherein when the first two-position throttle switch is set to the Fly position and the second two-position throttle switch is set to the Fly position, the FADEC device commands the engine to operate in a Fly regime; and

wherein at least one of (1) when the first two-position switch is in the Fly position and the second two-position switch is in the Idle position, the FADEC device commands the engine to operate in a fly regime and subsequent switching the first two-position switch to the Idle position initiates autorotation of the helicopter and (2) when the first two-position switch is in the Idle position and the second two-position switch is in the Fly position, the FADEC device commands the engine to operate in a fly regime and subsequent switching the second two-position switch to the Idle position initiates autorotation of the helicopter.

2. The helicopter of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first collective control stick and the second collective control stick is movable to control a pitch angle of a rotor blade.

3. The helicopter of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first two-position throttle switch and the second two-position throttle switch comprises a rocker switch.

4. The helicopter of claim 1 , wherein the first collective control stick comprises a head disposed at a distal end of the first collective control stick.

5. The helicopter of claim 4 , wherein the first collective control stick comprises a twistable grip portion configured to throttle the engine.

6. The helicopter of claim 5 , wherein the first two-position throttle switch is disposed on the head and in oriented to face at least partially laterally.

7. The helicopter of claim 4 , the head further comprising:

a switch shield protruding from the head.

8. The helicopter of claim 7 , wherein the switch shield comprises a rear wall.

9. The helicopter of claim 7 , wherein the switch shield comprises a forward wall.

10. The helicopter of claim 7 , wherein the switch shield comprises an upper wall.

11. The helicopter of claim 1 , wherein when the first two-position switch is in the Idle position and the second two-position switch is in the Idle position, the FADEC device commands the engine to operate in an idle regime.

12. The helicopter of claim 1 , wherein when the first two-position switch is in the Fly position and the second two-position switch is in the Fly position, the FADEC device commands the engine to operate in a fly regime and a dual fly crew alerting system caution message is provided to indicate that autorotation can be accomplished by switching both the first two-position switch and the second two-position switch to their Idle positions.

13. A method of controlling a helicopter, comprising:

providing at least one full authority digital engine controlled (FADEC) engine;

providing a FADEC device configured to control the engine;

providing a first two-position throttle switch disposed on a first collective control stick, the first two-position throttle switch being movable between a Fly position and an Idle position;

providing a second two-position throttle switch disposed on a second collective control stick, the second two-position throttle switch being movable between a Fly position and an Idle position; and

controlling the engine as a function of the positions of the first two-position throttle switch and the second two-position throttle switch;

wherein when the first two-position throttle switch is set to the Fly position and the second two-position throttle switch is set to the Fly position, the FADEC device commands the engine to operate in a Fly regime; and

wherein at least one of (1) when the first two-position switch is in the Fly position and the second two-position switch is in the Idle position, the FADEC device commands the engine to operate in a fly regime and subsequent switching the first two-position switch to the Idle position initiates autorotation of the helicopter and (2) when the first two-position switch is in the Idle position and the second two-position switch is in the Fly position, the FADEC device commands the engine to operate in a fly regime and subsequent switching the second two-position switch to the Idle position initiates autorotation of the helicopter.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein when the first two-position switch is in the Idle position and the second two-position switch is in the Idle position, the FADEC device commands the engine to operate in an idle regime.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein when the first two-position switch is in the Fly position and the second two-position switch is in the Fly position, the FADEC device commands the engine to operate in a fly regime and a dual fly crew alerting system caution message is provided to indicate that autorotation can be accomplished by switching both the first two-position switch and the second two-position switch to their Idle positions.