Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology
TOPIC 10
FLIGHT MANAGEMENT
SYSTEMS
(FMS)
1
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INTRODUCTION
FMS is a combined flight control, guidance & navigation system.
A computer system that uses a large data base to allow routes to be
preprogrammed and fed into the system by means of a data loader. The
system is constantly updated with respect to position accuracy by reference to
conventional navigation aids.
The sophisticated program and its associated data base insures that the most
appropriate aids are automatically selected during the information update cycle.
The aircraft position can be determined by
• two VORs (VHF Omni Range)
• one VOR and a DME
• any or all of the three INS (Inertial Navigation Systems)
• GPS
• by other radio signals
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VOR Station VOR Indicator
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DME Station DME Indicator
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Flight Management System
FMS desired to determine
a) a best "estimate" for the aircraft location from all this data
b) to determine the best flight path to reach a predetermined destination.
FMS manages all the aircraft systems, enabling the aircraft to fly the most
economical flight plan to its destination
This reduces the total consumption of the aircraft and saves the airline cost in
reduced fuel usage.
Reduced fuel consumption means that the aircraft can fly greater distance
which provides a further saving in the time taken for the aircraft to complete its
journey.
FMS also integrate and interface between EFIS and ECAM or EICAS.
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The Purpose of Flight Management System (FMS) are:
Reduces pilot workload.
Automatic control of the aircraft to minimized
cost by computing the optimum flight profile.
Status of aircraft systems using Built In
Test Equipment (BITE) functions.
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Performance Management
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B737 Flight Management System
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It is a computer-based flight control system capable of :
• Automatic Flight Control
• Performance Management
• Navigation and Guidance
• Status and Warning Displays
In order to perform these function the FMS requires information
or interface from 5 major sub-system digital computers,
namely:
• Digital Flight Control System (DFDS)
• Auto-throttle System
• Flight Management Computer System (FMCS)
• Inertial Reference Unit (IRS)
• Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS)
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Malaysian Institute of Aviation Technology
Flight Management System
The major function of the FMS are:
Storage of navigation, aerodynamic and engine data with provision for
updating of navigation data every 28 days cycle.
Data entry for Inertial Reference Unit alignment.
Means for entry, storage and in-flight modification of a complete flight
plan.
Means of entry performance optimization and reference data including gross
weight, fuel on board, cruise temperature and wind, fuel reserves, cost index
and computation of optimum vertical profile utilizing this data plus the entered
route.
Transmission of data to generate a map of the route on the navigation
display.
Calculation of the aircraft’s position and transmission of this information
for display.
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The major function of the FMS are:
Capability to automatically tune or manually select VOR/DME
stations that will yield the most accurate aircraft position and tune
the receivers automatically
Capability to transmit pitch, roll, yaw and thrust commands to the
autopilot, auto throttle and flight director to fly an optimum
vertical flight profile for climb, cruise, descent and approach while
automatically controlling the lateral portion of the flight plan.
Capability for pilot input of waypoint and NAVAIDs into the navigation
database
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Input FMC
The FMC takes input and sensory information
from many aircraft system, including the following:
Flight Control Fuel Quantity
VOR/DME/ILS
Computer Indicating
Receiver
(FCCs) System
Inertial
FMC
Reference Digital Clock
Database
System (IRS)
Air Data Weight and
FMC/CDU
Computer Balance
(Crew inputs)
(ADC) Computer
Output FMC
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Inputs from these systems is combined to conduct
comprehensive aircraft control calculations. Output
from the FMC/CDU is sent to the following system :
Integrated Autopilot Flight
Display System Director
(PFD & ND) System
Electronic
Auto throttle
Engine
Servo
Controls
COMPONENTS
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• 2 Control Display Unit
1 (CDU) - (pilot, co-pilot)
• 2 Flight Management
2 Computer (FMC) –
(pilot, copilot)
3 • Data Base Loader (DBL)
* Minimum system requirement is 1CDU and 1FMC
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Flight Management System
Control Display Unit (CDU)
It is the interface between the Pilot and the Flight
Management Computer (FMC)
It provides manually inserting and retrieving data to
and from the FMC memory.
It provides display of aircraft initialization, reference,
flight planning, map and system status BITE.
It consist of display, line select keys, alphanumeric
keys and function & mode keys.
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Control Display Unit
(CDU)
Flight Management Computer
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It is the heart of the FMS. Some of the functions of
the Flight Management Computer are:
• The entire flight can be programmed into the
Flight Planning computer using a cockpit keyboard (CDU).
• The system can provide optimum profiles for climb,
Performance cruise, descent and holding patterns. A minimum
Management cost flight can be flown automatically by using
optimum climb settings and cruise settings
Navigation • The FMC can calculate great circle
Calculations routes, climb and descent profiles
Auto Tune of VOR • The FMC can automatically tune the
and DME radios to the correct station frequencies.
Auto throttle • These are displayed on the EADI as
Speed Commands FAST/SLOW indications.
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Data Base of FMCS
FMC has two data base :
Navigation database Performance database
• is a programmable • stores engine
memory that stores the installation data, aircraft
applicable navigation aerodynamic limits and
data and selection of atmospheric models.
company structured • This database is
routes. contained in permanent
• This database is store programme memory of
in non-volatile RAM. FMC.
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Data Base Loader (DBL)
Fitted to the FMCS when computers need to be updated.
Data contained within the FMC memory is only accurate for
28 days.
The need the constant updates due to magnetic variation changing,
adding and updating navaid information, even software updates
occur throughout the life of the flight management computer system
Loading of data for the entire world takes approximately 8 minutes to
complete.
Another function of DBL is that it can be used to load flight plans that
were generated on a personal computer (PC). The DBL accepts a
standard 3.5 inch floppy disk.
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BITE Monitor
BITE monitoring circuit, on a system level, which periodically
check the operation of that system.
In the event of a failure, a signal is sent to display a flag
and/or store the fault in that system’s or another system’s
memory for maintenance referral.
Functionality:
• Analysis of failure monitoring result
• Reporting & Memorization of failures
• Management of tests
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FMS Interface
Digital - Analog • Convert analog signals to digital signals and
vice versa from sensors with analog outputs
Adapter (DAA) and displays with analog inputs for FMS
Distance
• Provide distance information and can be
Measuring automatically tuned by signals from the FMC
Equipment (DME)
VHF Navigation • Provide deviation and bearing information
and can be automatically tuned by signals from
Receivers the FMC
• provides total fuel information from Fuel
Fuel Quantity Summation unit which processes from
individual fuel tank indicators
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FMS Interface
Inertial Reference • Provide present position, heading, attitude,
velocity, ground speed, and vertical speed
System (IRS) through an ARINC 429.
Digital Air Data
• Provides barometric altitude, airspeed, mach,
Computer System and temperature through an ARINC 429
(DADC)
• discrete input signals from wing anti-ice,
Discrete Signals engine anti-ice, and engine bleed systems
which cause an engine thrust reduction.
• Provide aircraft height with respect to the
Radar Altimeter runaway to FMC
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FMS Interface
Autothrottle • FMC interfaces with the autothrottle computer (A/T)
through an ARINC 429 which provides the A/T with
Computer climb, cruise, and go-around N1 limits it also provides
gross weight and temperature data.
(A/T)
Digital • DFCS Mode Control Panel (MCP) provides LNAV and
VNAV engage mode logic, altitude select data, and
Flight flap position to the FMC, through ARINC 429.
Control • output of the FMC interfaces with the DFCS Flight Control
Computer (FCC) through ARINC provides the FCC with
System target airspeed and mach, target altitude, target
vertical speed, and roll command.
(DFCS)
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FMS Interface
Electronic Flight • The FMC provides Flight Plan, Navigation and
Map information to the EFIS. Mode selector on
Instrument System the EFIS control panel allows the EFIS to display
(EFIS) either FMC or VHF NAV information.
Engine Indicating • The FMC provides command N1 to the EICAS
and Crew Alerting to displayed on the Primary Engine Display
System (EICAS) (PED)
Mach/Airspeed • FMC computed target airspeed is displayed
when VNAV is selected on the DFCS mode
Indicator control panel
Ground Proximity • FMC provides the GPWS with track angle and
Warning System present position latitude and longitude
(GPWS) through an ARINC 429
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FMC Interface
