Managing a Data-link Failure of a Single-piloted Airliner during Flight: A System-Theoretic Process Analysis

Each modern concept of Single Pilot Operations (SPO) for a commercial airliner in research employs a remote pilot and/or remote super-dispatcher as ground-based support to handle any off-nominal and emergency situation on-board. Hence, a data-link break-up poses a hazard for flight safety. Existing technology from unmanned aviation for mission management is considered in how it could be applied to SPO-specific procedures to handle data-link failures. A predictive System-Theoretic Process Analysis of different types of data-link failures during flight exemplifies how an automated contingency management system could assess the data-link’s quality and alert the single-pilot to continue safe operations. A complete loss of link requires an emergency landing via autoland that is administered by the mission management. Nonetheless, the systems and procedures design(s) to manage data-link contingencies must consider the reliability of other components of the single-piloted airliner.