New Guide for Guide for Simplified Flight Control Systems for Piloted Aircraft
1. Scope
This guide provides non-mandatory guidance for the design, integration, and evaluation of Simplified Flight Control (SFC) systems used in piloted aircraft. Simplified Flight Control systems are characterized by pilot commands expressed as high-level flight objectives—such as flight path, speed, climb or descent intent—rather than direct control surface or rate commands, with continuous control execution performed by the system.
The guide addresses system architecture concepts, functional allocation between pilot and automation, human–machine interface considerations, failure and degradation strategies, and operational transparency. It describes acceptable design practices for maintaining pilot authority, mode awareness, and safe degradation to lower levels of control, such as Indirect Flight Control or direct control.
This guide is applicable to a wide range of aircraft types, including fixed-wing, powered-lift, and other aircraft permitted under emerging regulatory frameworks. It does not establish mandatory performance or safety requirements and is not intended to be used as a sole means of certification compliance.
Keywords
simplified flight control; flight augmentation; indirect flight control; direct flight control
Rationale
Emerging aircraft designs increasingly incorporate flight control systems that simplify pilot workload by allowing pilots to command high-level flight objectives rather than direct control inputs. While these Simplified Flight Control concepts are being developed and applied across multiple aircraft categories, there is currently no common industry guidance describing their design principles, operational boundaries, or safe integration into piloted aircraft.
Existing standards primarily address primary flight control integrity or indirect control law behavior but do not provide guidance on higher-level control abstraction, pilot–automation interaction, or safe degradation strategies specific to Simplified Flight Control. As a result, manufacturers and regulators lack a shared framework for discussing these systems consistently.
This guide is intended to support aircraft designers, system developers, certification applicants, regulators, and pilots by establishing common terminology, architectural concepts, and safety considerations for Simplified Flight Control systems. The guide will inform future certification approaches and potential future standards while preserving flexibility for innovation and continued maturation of the technology. This standard will supplement a separate standard developed for indirect flight control
The title and scope are in draft form and are under development within this ASTM Committee.
Work Item Status
Date Initiated: 12-22-2025
Technical Contact: Chul Park
Item: 000
Ballot:
Status: