Anautothrottle (automaticthrottle; also known asautothrust,A/T, orA/THR) is a system that allows apilot to control the power setting of anaircraft'sengines by specifying a desired flight characteristic, rather than manually controlling the fuel flow. The autothrottle can greatly reduce the pilots' workload and help conservefuel and extend engine life by metering the precise amount of fuel required to attain a specific targetindicated air speed, or the assigned power for different phases of flight. A/T and AFDS (Auto Flight Director Systems) can work together to fulfill the whole flight plan.[1]
There are two parameters that an A/T can maintain, or try to attain:speed andthrust.
Inspeed mode the throttle is positioned to attain a set target speed, subject to safe operating margins. For example, if the pilot selects a target speed which is slower thanstall speed, the autothrottle system maintains a speed above the stall speed.
In thethrust mode the engine is maintained at a fixed power setting according to the different flight phases. For example, duringtakeoff, the A/T maintains constant takeoff power until takeoff mode is finished. Duringclimb, the A/T maintains constant climb power; indescent, the A/T reduces the setting to the idle position, and so on. When the A/T is working in thrust mode, speed is controlled bypitch (or the control column), and not by the A/T. Aradar altimeter feeds data to the autothrottle in this mode.[1][2]
OnBoeing-type aircraft, A/T can be used in all flight phases fromtakeoff,climb,cruise,descent,approach, all the way toland orgo-around, barring malfunction.Taxi is not considered a part of flight, and A/T does not work for taxiing. In most cases, A/T mode selection is automatic without the need of any manual selection unless interrupted by pilots.
According to Boeing-published flight procedures, A/T is engaged before the takeoff procedure and is automatically disconnected two seconds after landing. During flight, manual override of A/T is always available. A release of manual override allows A/T to regain control, and the throttle will go back to the A/T commanded position except for two modes (Boeing type aircraft): IDLE and THR HLD. In these two modes, the throttle will remain at the manual commanded position.[2]
A primitive autothrottle was first fitted to later versions of theMesserschmitt Me 262jetfighter late inWorld War II. However, the first commercial airplane with this system (named AutoPower) was theDC-3 (since 1956). The first version was able to keep a constantangle of attack but speed-only during approach. When the possibility of maintaining speed during an entire flight was introduced, it led to the creation of the modern autothrottle. TheRA-5C Vigilante used an autothrottle actuated by the input fromaccelerometers installed in the tail which caused the throttle to be sensitive to movement of thestabilator. This allowed the pilot to adjust the throttle setting during landing approach by stick input alone.[3][4][5]
Shortly after AutoPower's success, two companies, Sperry (now part of Honeywell) and Collins started competing in the development of an autothrottle, with more and more liners and business jets being equipped with it.
Today, it is often linked to aFlight Management System.FADEC is an extension of the autothrottle concept and controls many other parameters besides fuel flow.[1]