Shukla, Poorva Jahnukumar2017-09-132017-09-132017-09-12vt_gsexam:12585http://hdl.handle.net/10919/78881In this thesis, we describe a method for controlling the cycle-averaged velocity direction of a fixed-wing aircraft in an unpowered, helical descent. While the aircraft propulsion system is disabled, either intentionally or due to a failure, the aerodynamic control surfaces (aileron, elevator, and rudder) are assumed to be functional. Our approach involves two steps: (i) establishing a stable, steady, helical motion for which the control surfaces are not fully deflected and (ii) modulating the aircraft control surfaces about their nominal positions to ``slant'' the helical flight path in a desired direction relative to the atmosphere, whether to attain a desired impact location, to counter a steady wind, or both. The effectiveness of the control law was evaluated in numerical simulations of a general transport model (GTM).ETDIn CopyrightLinear Control TheoryAerodynamic Flight TerminationActive Flight Path ControlThesis