Autothrottle

An autothrottle (automatic throttle) allows a pilot to control the power setting of an aircraft's engines by specifying a desired flight characteristic, rather than manually controlling fuel flow. These systems can conserve fuel and extend engine life by metering the precise amount of fuel required to attain a specific target indicated air speed, or the assigned power for different phases of flight. A/T and AFDS (Auto Flight Director System) work together to fulfill the whole flight plan and greatly reduce pilots' work load.

Working modes

There are two parameters that an A/T (autothrottle) can maintain, or try to attain: Speed and Thrust.

In Speed mode, A/T, without going beyond its limitations, moves the throttle to a position to attain target speed, meanwhile to protect the speed within the aircraft safety margin. For example, if the pilot selects a target speed which is slower than stall speed, or a speed faster than maximum speed, A/T will maintain a speed closest to the target speed that is within the range of safe speeds.

In Thrust mode, A/T, disregarding speed, maintains a fixed power setting according to the different flight phases. For example, during Takeoff, A/T maintains a constant Takeoff power until Takeoff mode is finished. During Climb, A/T maintains a constant climb power; in Descent, A/T retards the throttle to IDLE position, and so on. When A/T is working in Thrust mode, speed is controlled by pitch (or the control column), and NOT protected by A/T.

Usage

On Boeing type aircraft, A/T can be used in all flight phases from Takeoff, Climb, Cruise, Descent, Approach, all the way to Land or Go-around, barring malfunction. Taxi is not considered as a part of flight, and A/T does not work for Taxi. 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 in BEFORE the takeoff procedure and is automatically disconnected 2 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 2 modes (Boeing type aircraft): IDLE and THR HLD. In these two modes, the throttle will remain at the manual commanded position.

Origins

A primitive autothrottle was first fitted to later versions of the Messerschmitt 262 jet fighter late in World War II. Nowadays it is often linked to a Flight Management System, and FADEC is an extension of the concept to control many other parameters besides fuel flow.