Historic Paper on Automatic Radio Flight Control

This reproduction of an historic 1946 paper discusses the general problem of automatic control of aircraft flight on radiodefined tracks as an aid to point-to-point navigation, traffic control, and final approach and landing. Practical systems which have been extensively tested are described, and their operation is explained on both operational and theoretical grounds. A brief outline is given of the various radio navigational facilities which are available to define suitable tracks for automatic aircraft guidance. Effects of cross winds are analyzed, and a complete discussion of damping problems is given. The improvements in accuracy, reliability, and safety in flight which accrue through the use of automatic instead of manual control are described, and supported by results of operational tests. The paper recommends widespread adoption of automatic radio flight control systems as an indispensable aid to all-weather operation of aircraft.