Home | Back to Features | Next (Emissions & DOC)
In addition to its conventional mission analysis capability, which covers standard 'block range' operations, Piano includes a unique performance tool for analysing arbitrary flight manoeuvres, or sequences of such manoeuvres. The user can specify the precise aircraft configuration, speed schedules and thrust settings with required endpoints such as time / distance / mass / altitude targets. This creates an initial 'manoeuvre' which is analysed immediately and can then be followed directly by any number of additional manoeuvres to form a 'sequence'. For example, such sequences may be used to model accurately the landing / takeoff segments (LTO) using arbitrary rules, flap settings, glideslopes or level holds, etc. Accelerations / decelerations between individual manoeuvre segments are handled automatically. Having defined a complete sequence, the user can also iterate it automatically, varying the endpoint of any intermediate manoeuvre to match overall requirements like the total distance. Individual segments can be edited, deleted, or new segments inserted and the sequence re-run and saved on file. Sequences can be extended to cover an entire mission.