METHOD AND DEVICE FOR OPTIMIZING THE FLIGHT OF AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20100152927A1
• Filed: 11/30/2009
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales SA
• Original Assignee: Thales SA
• Inventors: Sacle, Jérõme, Cambon, Phillipe
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0005 with arrangements to save energy

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for optimizing the flight of an aircraft comprising a flight management system, the said flight management system using a first cost index (CI₁) and calculating a first speed setpoint (V₁) on the basis of the first cost index (CI₁), the said flight management system calculating (11), furthermore, a first prediction of remaining flight time (T₁) and a first prediction of fuel consumption (EFOB₁) on the basis of the first speed, the said method being characterized in that it comprises, furthermore, the following steps:

• • the selection of a second cost index (CI₂),
  • the calculation (12) by the flight management system of a second speed setpoint (V₂) on the basis of the second cost index (CI₂), of a second prediction of remaining flight time (T₂) and of a second prediction of consumption (EFOB₂) on the basis of the second speed (V₂),
  • the calculation (13) of a discrepancy (ΔV) between the first and the second speed, of a discrepancy (ΔT) between the first prediction of remaining flight time and the second prediction of remaining flight time and of a discrepancy (ΔEFOB) between the first and the second prediction of consumption,
  • the displaying (14) of the discrepancies (ΔV,ΔT,ΔEFOB) calculated in the previous step.

The invention allows vice versa the calculation and the consideration of a CI on the basis of the speed entered.

Claims

1. Method for optimizing the flight of an aircraft comprising a flight management system, the said flight management system using a first cost index (CI₁) and calculating a first speed (V₁) on the basis of the first cost index (Cl₁), the said flight management system calculating, furthermore, a first prediction of remaining flight time (T₁) and a first prediction of fuel consumption (EFOB₁) on the basis of the first speed (V₁), the said method wherein it comprises, furthermore, the following steps:

the selection of a second cost index (CI₂),

the calculation by the flight management system of a second speed (V₂) on the basis of the second cost index (CI₂), and the calculation of a second prediction of remaining flight time (T₂) and of a second prediction of consumption (EFOB₂) on the basis of the second speed (V₂),

the calculation of a discrepancy (Δ

V) between the first and the second speed, of a discrepancy (Δ

T) between the first prediction of remaining flight time and the second prediction of remaining flight time and of a discrepancy (Δ

EFOB) between the first and the second prediction of consumption,

the displaying of the discrepancies (Δ

V,Δ

T,Δ

EFOB) calculated in the previous step.

2. Method for managing the flight of an aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the selection of the second cost index (CI₂) is performed directly by a pilot.

3. Method for managing the flight of an aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the selection of the second cost index (CI₂) is performed indirectly by a pilot, the said pilot selecting a speed setpoint, the second cost index (CI₂) being calculated on the basis of the said speed setpoint.

4. Method for managing the flight of an aircraft according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a step of validation of the second cost index (CI₂) by the pilot, the second cost index (CI₂) replacing the first cost index (CI₁) if the second cost index (CI₂) is validated by the pilot of the aircraft, the said validation giving rise to the consideration of the second speed by a speed-based guidance automated facility of the flight management system.

5. Method for managing the flight of an aircraft according to claim 1, wherein the said aircraft flying along air routes, the said method comprises, furthermore, a step of recording the cost indices CI used successively on one and the same air route.

6. Device for optimizing the flight of an aircraft comprising a flight management system, the said flight management system using a first cost index (CI₁) and calculating a first speed setpoint (V₁) on the basis of the first cost index (CI₁), the said flight management system calculating, furthermore, a first prediction of remaining flight time and a first prediction of consumption on the basis of the first speed, wherein it furthermore comprises:

means for selecting a second cost index (CI₂),

means for the calculation of a second speed setpoint (V₂) on the basis of the second cost index (CI₂), of a second prediction of remaining flight time and of a second prediction of consumption on the basis of the second speed (V₂),

means for the calculation of a discrepancy between a first and the second speed, of a discrepancy between the first prediction of remaining flight time and the second prediction of remaining flight time and of a discrepancy between the first and the second prediction of consumption,

means for displaying the calculated discrepancies.

7. Device for optimizing flight according to claim 6, wherein the means for selecting a cost index comprise:

a first key for sliding a cursor over a scale of cost indices (CI) or of speed in a first direction, corresponding to a decrease in the cost index and

a second key for sliding the cursor over the scale of cost indices (CI) or of speed in a second direction and corresponding to an increase in the cost index.

8. Device for optimizing flight according to claim 7, wherein an interval of displacement of the cursor between a first of cost index (CI₁) and a second of cost index (CI₂), that are consecutive, is dependent on a discrepancy between a first speed (V₁) and a second speed (V₂), the first speed (V₁) being calculated on the basis of the first cost index (CI₁) and the second speed (V₂) on the basis of the second cost index (CI₂).

9. Device for optimizing flight according to claim 6, wherein the means for selecting a cost index or a speed comprise:

a keyboard for entering the value of the cost index and a key for validating the value entered.

10. Device for optimizing flight according to claim 6, wherein the display means comprise:

a dedicated page displaying the time discrepancy, the fuel consumption discrepancy, the speed discrepancy and the new speed.

11. Device for optimizing flight according to claim 6, wherein it is integrated into the flight management system.

12. Device for optimizing flight according to one claim 6, wherein the aircraft furthermore comprising a server dedicated to documentation (EFB), the said device is integrated into the said server dedicated to documentation.