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| Mock up of the Irkus MC-21 cockpit, which will be fitted with active side stick. Photo: Alex Beltyukov via Wikipedia |
[Avionics Today 04-20-2015] UTC Aerospace Systems is developing an active side-stick controller designed for large commercial airliners, starting with the Irkut MC-21 single-aisle aircraft. Active side-sticks, which are already in use in the aviation industry but are new to the commercial air transport arena, provide pilots with a tactile and visual feedback of the aircraft behavior.
Featuring an electrical cross coupling with override capability and a grip backdrive in autopilot mode, the active controllers have been designed to provide pilots with a heightened awareness of the aircraft’s situation. UTC’s Actuation & Propeller business unit is supplying the active side-sticks for the cockpit of the new Irkut MC-21-300, which is scheduled to achieve its first flight next year and enter into service in 2018.
“Active side-sticks significantly improve the level of safety, making evident control inputs of pilots to one another and allowing prompt recovery actions,” said Yakovlev Deputy General Director for Flight Tests Roman Taskaev.