Regime dependent aircraft piston engine monitoring

Modern digital engine monitors with separate probes for each cylinder provide useful diagnostic information that precedes large class of engine problems. Limits for alarm alerts in such monitors are set to encompass all phases of engine operation. Method for monitoring engine parameters that considers multiple engine regimes corresponding to a current flight phase (engine run-up, taxi, take-off, climb, cruise and descent) and individual cylinder differences is proposed. Engine operation is presented graphically on the engine monitor display as patterns consisting of CHT/EGT bars. They can be compared to previously stored patterns corresponding to a particular flight phase possibly indicating deviations from previous flights. Flight phases are determined from engine RPM parameter together with speed and vertical speed derived from geometric altitude present in GPS data.