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Efficient time slot allocation for a flight plan of an aircraft

  • US 10,354,538 B2
  • Filed: 09/20/2017
  • Issued: 07/16/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2017
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for determining an optimum flight time slot for a target aircraft, comprising:

  • a communication system;

    a processor communicatively connected to the communication system, the processor configured to;

    receive scheduled flight plan data and real time position data for other aircraft;

    receive surface operation position data for other aircraft and ground operation vehicles at a departure airport of the target aircraft and surface operation position data for other aircraft and ground operation vehicles at an arrival airport of the target aircraft;

    receive weather forecast data;

    receive a proposed flight time;

    determine a flight plan for the target aircraft;

    determine a plurality of flight time slots for the target aircraft based upon the proposed flight time;

    determine, for each of the plurality of flight times slots, an estimated traffic density for the respective time slot based upon a number of aircraft expected to be within a first bounding area defined by an area around a first merging point near the departure airport according to the received flight plan data and real time position data and a first weight assigned to the first merging point, and a number of aircraft expected to be within a second bounding area defined by an area around a second merging point near the arrival airport according to the received flight plan data and real time position data and a second weight assigned to the second merging point; and

    determine an optimal one of the plurality of flight time slots based upon the determined traffic density for each of the plurality of time slots.

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