SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZED FLIGHT PLANNING

• US 20100191458A1
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flightaware LLC (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Flightaware LLC (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Duell, Mark L. JR., Baker, Daniel, McNett, David Cameron, Lehenbauer, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 8,160,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for the processing and optimization of flight plans is disclosed. Information regarding a plurality of previous flight plans is received over a digital network and is stored in at least a database. The database preferably includes aviation fuel price information, aircraft performance information, and aviation weather information as well. Upon receiving a request, a server generates at least an optimized portion of a flight plan. In one form, historical flight plan data of others is automatically used to aid in the determination of the optimized route offered to the user for review, with the resulting final flight plan being electronically filed with the FAA upon approval. In a further form, the user may arrange fuel transactions at intermediate destinations with the service provider receiving a fee in exchange for facilitating the transaction.

Claims

1. A method for flight plan optimization, said method comprising the steps of:

maintaining a first electronic database of aircraft performance information and aviation weather including at least current temperatures and winds aloft;

maintaining a second electronic database containing a plurality of fixed base operators, wherein each fixed based operator has an associated airport and a current price-per-unit for at least one type of aviation fuel;

receiving over a network flight information from a remote user using a first server;

wherein said flight information includes an origin and destination location, departure time, and an aircraft type;

determining a fuel type required for said aircraft type using said first server;

calculating a plurality of flight paths from said origin location to said destination location based upon accepted FAA guidelines, wherein each flight path comprises a plurality of flight segments having an altitude, climb rate, and air speed;

calculating a total cost for each of said plurality of flight paths, wherein said total cost is calculated as the sum of the total cost of each flight segment, wherein the total cost of each flight segment is a function of the aircraft performance information associated in said first database with said aircraft type, said aviation weather, and said current price-per-unit for said fuel type associated in said second database with a selected set of fixed base operators; and

transmitting at least a portion of said flight paths and their associated total cost to the remote user over said network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a pair of flight paths within said plurality follow the same route but have different altitudes for at least one point along said route.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein aviation icing information is stored in said first electronic database and any determined need for anti-ice is factored into said total cost.

4. A method for presenting suitable airports, said method comprising the steps of:

maintaining a first electronic database of airports, each airport including at least an associated location, runway type, runway length, and hours of operation information;

maintaining a second electronic database of aircraft performance information and aircraft takeoff and landing requirements including aircraft weight and climb rate;

receiving over a network flight information from a remote user using a first server;

wherein said flight information includes an origin and destination location, departure time, and an aircraft type;

determining a first set of airports within said destination location, each airport within said first set has an associated location which is within said geographic location;

determining a second set of airports as a subset of said first set, wherein each airport within said second set has an associated runway type and runway length within said first database suitable for accommodating the aircraft takeoff and landing requirements associated in said second database with said aircraft type; and

transmitting information identifying at least one airport within said second set to the remote user over said network.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein each airport within said second set of airports meets a specified criteria indicated by a remote user.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein each airport within said second set of airports does indicate any relevant delays at the current time.

7. A method for presenting routes suitable for use in a flight plan, said method comprising the steps of:

maintaining an electronic database of flight plans previously filed with the FAA, wherein each flight plan has at least a first location and a subsequent second location and a flight path there between, and an aircraft type;

receiving over a network flight information from a remote user using a first server;

wherein said flight information includes a flight origin and flight destination for at least one leg of a flight and a flight aircraft type;

selecting a set of prior flight plans from said electronic database, wherein each of said flight plans within said set has an associated first location at or near said origin, an associated second location at or near said destination location, and an associated aircraft type similar to said flight aircraft type; and

transmitting information regarding a plurality of suggested flight routes to the remote user over said network, wherein each suggested flight route within said plurality is comprised of at least one flight plan within said set.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a selected route within said plurality of suggested flight routes from said remote user;

generating a sample flight plan based on said selected route; and

transmitting said sample flight plan to said user over said network.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

filing said sample flight plan electronically with the FAA in response to a request received from the remote user over said network.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one suggested flight route within said plurality is taken entirely from a single prior flight plan within said set.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one suggested flight route within said plurality represents the entire flight path from a single prior flight plan within said set.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one flight plan stored within said electronic database is associated with a date.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein each prior flight plan within said set is no older than a threshold time.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of said prior flight plans was accepted by the FAA and the fact of acceptance is provided to the remote user over said network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein at least one of said accepted flight plans is accompanied with additional information relating to changes made after acceptance by the FAA.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the path from said first location to said second location represents the entire flight.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein the first location is an initial origin airport.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein the second location is a final destination airport.

19. The method of claim 7, wherein said selecting is performed for each leg of a multi-leg flight prior to said transmitting.

20. A method of scheduling aviation fuel transactions during web-based flight planning, said method comprising the steps of:

maintaining an electronic database containing a plurality of fixed base operators, wherein each fixed based operator has an associated airport and a related price-per-unit for at least one type of aviation fuel;

receiving over a network flight information from a remote user;

wherein said flight information includes an origin and destination location and aircraft information;

determining a plurality of refueling airports for at least a first leg of a flight between said origin and destination location and a fuel type required from said flight information using said first server;

transmitting fuel information regarding a plurality of fixed base operators over said network to the remote user using said server;

wherein each fixed base operator within said plurality is associated in said database with an airport within said plurality of refueling airports and said fuel information includes a current price-per-unit for said fuel type associated in said database with each fixed base operator within said plurality;

receiving over said network a selection for a fixed base operator from the remote user, wherein said selected fixed base operator is selected from said plurality of fixed base operators;

transmitting an electronic fuel purchase reservation to said selected fixed base operator over said network in response to said receiving; and

collecting a fee for a transaction associated with said fuel purchase reservation from said selected fixed base operator.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of:

generating a sample flight plan based on said origin and destination location and said selection for a fixed base operator in response to a request received from the remote user.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said reservation indicates a quantity of fuel corresponding to the amount of fuel required by said sample flight plan.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said reservation indicates a quantity of fuel required by a leg of said sample flight plan.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of:

filing said sample flight plan electronically with the FAA in response to a request received from the remote user.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein said fee is based on the total of said transaction.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said fee comprises a percentage of at least a portion of said transaction.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said fee includes a flat fee.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said fee is a percentage of said transaction.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein said fee is based on the total number of units sold in said transaction.

30. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of:

sending a request for the current fuel price to at least one fixed base operator prior to said first transmitting step.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said request includes at least an aviation fuel type.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said origin and destination locations are airports.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said origin and destination locations are received as airport codes.

34. The method of claim 20, wherein at least one fixed base operation within said electronic database has indicated a willingness to pay a fee for sales directed to it.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein each fixed base operation within said electronic database has indicated a willingness to pay a fee for sales directed to it.

36. A method of providing aviation fuel at a discounted price-per-unit to a customer, said method comprising the steps of:

maintaining an electronic database containing a plurality of fixed base operators, wherein each fixed based operator has an associated airport and a current price-per-unit for at least one type of aviation fuel;

analyzing at least a flight plan portion received from a remote user over a network to determine at least one refueling location using a first server;

determining a fuel type required for said flight plan using said first server;

providing a discounted price-per-unit for at least a first fixed base operator associated with an airport matching said refueling location based on said current price-per-unit for said fuel type associated with said first fixed base operator in said database using said first server;

transmitting said discounted price-per-unit for a set of fixed base operators to the remote user over said network, wherein said set includes said first fixed base operation;

receiving over said network a selection for a fixed base operator from the remote user, wherein said selected fixed base operator is selected from said set of fixed base operators;

transmitting an electronic fuel purchase reservation to said selected fixed base operator over said network in response to said receiving; and

collecting a fee for the transaction associated with said fuel purchase reservation from said selected fixed base operator.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said fee is based on the total of said transaction.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said fee comprises a percentage of at least a portion of said transaction.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein said fee includes a flat fee.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein said fee is a percentage of said transaction.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein said fee is based on the total number of units sold in said transaction.

42. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of:

sending a request for the current fuel price to at least one fixed base operator prior to said first transmitting step.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein said request includes at least an aviation fuel type.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein said flight plan portion is an airport location.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said airport location is an airport code.

46. The method of claim 36, wherein said flight plan portion is an airport origin and an intermediate location.

47. The method of claim 36, wherein at least one fixed base operation within said electronic database has indicated a willingness to pay a fee for sales directed to it.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein said fee is calculated based at least upon a discount plan stored in association with each FBO.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein each fixed base operation within said electronic database has indicated a willingness to pay a fee for sales directed to it.