Method for implementing required navigational performance procedures
First Claim
1. A method for designing an approach path for an aircraft approaching a particular runway comprising the steps:
- selecting a runway;
gathering topographic data for an obstacle evaluation area for the selected runway, identifying all upwardly projecting obstacles in the obstacle evaluation area;
laying out a preliminary approach path to the runway, including a missed approach segment;
calculating an obstacle clearance surface for the preliminary approach path;
calculating a momentary descent portion of the obstacle clearance surface;
adjusting the obstacle clearance surface such that none of the identified obstacles intersects the obstacle clearance surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method (200) is disclosed for designing an RNP approach for an aircraft at a particular runway (90). The method includes selecting a runway (201), gathering obstacle data for the obstacle evaluation area (202), selecting a VEB method and terms (204), laying out a preliminary approach, inducing a missed approach segment (206), calculating a preliminary obstacle clearance surface (208), calculating a momentary descent segment using a physical model of the aircraft (210), adjusting the obstacle clearance surface so that no obstacles intersect the surface (212), and optionally optimizing the approach by departing from the operator'"'"'s standard procedures (214). Preferably, the obstacle clearance surface is adjusted so that it just touches an obstacle, without any object intersecting the surface, thereby providing an optimal decision altitude.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A method for designing an approach path for an aircraft approaching a particular runway comprising the steps:
-
selecting a runway;
gathering topographic data for an obstacle evaluation area for the selected runway, identifying all upwardly projecting obstacles in the obstacle evaluation area;
laying out a preliminary approach path to the runway, including a missed approach segment;
calculating an obstacle clearance surface for the preliminary approach path;
calculating a momentary descent portion of the obstacle clearance surface;
adjusting the obstacle clearance surface such that none of the identified obstacles intersects the obstacle clearance surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for designing an aircraft RNP approach for a particular runway having an obstacle evaluation area and a plurality of upwardly-extending obstacles in the obstacle evaluation area, the method comprising the steps:
-
laying out a preliminary final approach segment;
calculating a first portion of an obstacle clearance surface underlying the preliminary final approach segment using a vertical error budget calculation;
laying out a missed approach segment having a first climb segment that intersects the first portion of the obstacle clearance surface, and such that none of the plurality of upwardly-extending obstacles intersect the missed approach segment;
calculating a momentary descent segment having an initial point on the first portion of the obstacle clearance surface and an end point on the missed approach segment, the momentary descent segment modeling the aircraft calculated flight path from initiation of a go-around from the initial point, wherein the initial portion of the obstacle clearance surface, the momentary descent segment and the missed approach segment define the obstacle clearance surface;
adjusting the obstacle clearance surface by sliding the initial point along the first portion of the obstacle clearance surface such that the obstacle clearance surface touches at least one of the plurality of obstructions and none of the plurality of obstructions intersect the obstacle clearance surface; and
identifying a decision altitude point at the point along the final approach segment vertically directly above the initial point. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
-
Specification