[SystemSafety] Autopilot interface?

[Chris Hills]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: systemsafety [mailto:systemsafety-bounces at lists.techfak.uni-
> bielefeld.de] On Behalf Of Michael J. Pont
> 
> I've never had responsibility for the design of an autopilot interface,
but I'd
> have thought that you'd probably want to make it difficult to set a target
height
> of 0 ft under these conditions?

Height above sea level or height above departure and/or target runway?

When an aircraft takes off or lands at "zero altitude" on the runway  the
runway height above sea level can be anywhere from -1240 (Dead Sea) to
+16,900 feet (base camp on Everest)  You have to accurately know the height
above (or below) ground level on both the take-off and target runways  and
any alternate runways. 

As we have seen, and it is not just around the Dead Sea,  these systems have
to be able to handle negative through to positive numbers seamlessly. 

Regards
   Chris 

Phaedrus Systems Ltd         
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