The angle of attack and side-slip angle estimation for civil aircraft

Abstract

The angle of attack and side-slip angle are two important flight parameters that directly affect the flight safety of civil aircraft. This paper studies the estimation method for the angle of attack and side-slip angle according to air-data system, inertial navigation system, and aircraft aerodynamic data to improve flight safety under the condition of icing, failures, and improper maintenance. Flight tests show that the proposed estimation method is feasible, reliable, and has better accuracy. Furthermore, flight test data analysis shows that the angle of attack estimation error is within 1 degree, and the side-slip angle estimation error is within 1.5 degrees which can meet the requirements of engineering application.