How Does a Single Lever Work to Control an Internal Combustion Engine?
A single lever is used in tandem with a digital engine control system known as full-authority digital engine control. The combined system controls engine power on an airplane much like an automobile accelerator provides speed. Movement of the power lever automatically sets the amount of fuel flow, air flow, ignition timing, and propeller pitch to achieve requested thrust levels from the engine and propeller during the takeoff, cruise, and landing phases of flight. The single-lever power control increases fuel efficiency, decreases the time between overhauls, and ensures the best engine/propeller performance for all flight phases. SLPC greatly simplifies engine control in comparison to older systems-which use a 50-year-old technology and require the use of as many as five levers for power control.
