Method and System For Aviation Navigation
First Claim
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1. A method for defining a flight path for an aircraft based on glide characteristics, the method comprising:
- receiving flight parameters comprising an origin, a destination, and glide characteristics for an aircraft;
determining a flight path between the origin and destination, the flight path calculated to maintain the aircraft within glide range of at least one acceptable emergency landing area along a defined portion of the flight path, based on the glide characteristics and locations of acceptable emergency landing areas between the origin and destination; and
selecting the at least one acceptable emergency landing area from a database of emergency landing areas.
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Abstract
A system operates to guide an aircraft to or along a route designed to maintain the aircraft within a safe glide distance of an acceptable emergency landing area. The system uses a database of emergency landing areas with glide characteristics of an aircraft to determine a route that minimizes travel time or other specified parameter, while keeping the aircraft within a safe glide distance of a landing area in the database meeting the landing requirements for the aircraft.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for defining a flight path for an aircraft based on glide characteristics, the method comprising:
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receiving flight parameters comprising an origin, a destination, and glide characteristics for an aircraft;
determining a flight path between the origin and destination, the flight path calculated to maintain the aircraft within glide range of at least one acceptable emergency landing area along a defined portion of the flight path, based on the glide characteristics and locations of acceptable emergency landing areas between the origin and destination; and
selecting the at least one acceptable emergency landing area from a database of emergency landing areas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for defining a flight path for an aircraft based on glide characteristics, the system comprising a computer operatively associated with a memory, the memory holding instructions for:
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receiving flight parameters comprising an origin, a destination, a maximum cruising altitude, a maximum airspeed, and glide characteristics for an aircraft;
determining a flight path between the origin and destination, the flight path calculated to maintain the aircraft within glide range of at least one acceptable emergency landing area along a defined portion of the flight path, based on the glide characteristics and locations of acceptable emergency landing areas between the origin and destination; and
selecting the at least one acceptable emergency landing area from a database of emergency landing areas. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-readable medium for a computer, the computer-readable medium holding instructions operative to cause the computer to:
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receive flight parameters comprising a origin, a destination, a maximum cruising altitude, a maximum airspeed, and glide characteristics for an aircraft;
determine a flight path between the origin and destination, the flight path calculated to maintain the aircraft within glide range of at least one acceptable emergency landing area along a defined portion of flight path, based on the glide characteristics and locations of acceptable emergency landing areas between the origin and destination; and
select the at least one acceptable emergency landing area from a database of emergency landing areas. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for selecting an emergency landing area for an aircraft, the method comprising:
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receiving a current altitude, location, glide characteristics and landing requirements for an aircraft;
selecting a nearest acceptable landing area from a database of landing areas meeting the landing requirements and within glide range;
providing a location and description of the nearest acceptable landing area. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A system for selecting a emergency landing area for an aircraft, the system comprising a computer operatively associated with a memory, the memory holding instructions for:
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receiving a current altitude, location, glide characteristics and landing requirements for an aircraft;
selecting a nearest acceptable landing area from a database of landing areas meeting the landing requirements and within glide range;
providing a location and description of the nearest acceptable landing area. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification