In a procedure for regulating a combustion process in an installation while air is being supplied, material is converted by the combustion process, with at least one flame being formed, and the state variables (s(t)) describing the state of the system in the installation are determined using at least one observation device that images the flame, as well as other sensors, and are evaluated in a computer, whereupon any appropriate actions (a.sup.i) that may be needed are selected in order to control adjusting devices for the supply of material and/or air, wherein during setpoint regulation to achieve setpoints (s.sub.0) of the state variables and/or stability of the combustion process a changeover is occasionally made from setpoint control to disturbance control.