MULTIPLE TRANSITION RNP APPROACH PROCEDURE

• US 20110144832A1
• Filed: 01/04/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: McDowell, Andrew, Bruce, Jeffery Leon
• Granted Patent: US 8,515,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0043 Traffic management of multiple aircrafts from the ground G08G5/003 takes precedence; data processing specially designed for resource management, e.g. scheduling or allocating time, human or machine resources G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/80 Energy efficient operational measures, e.g. ground operations or mission management

Abstract

A required navigation performance (RNP) approach method is described that includes providing a plurality of fixed, predetermined waypoints associated with at least one runway of at least one airport, providing a predetermined plurality of constant radius turnpoints connecting a downwind leg of the runway to a final approach leg of the runway, and assigning one of the constant radius turnpoints to an aircraft capable of flying an RNP approach, the turnpoint selected to provide separation from other approaching aircraft and a landing time for the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method for controlling airport traffic that includes both aircraft flying in RNP mode and aircraft not flying in RNP mode, the method comprising:

for aircraft flying in RNP mode;

routing an aircraft flying in RNP mode from a waypoint to a downwind leg of a runway approach;

determining, using sequencing and separation requirements, one of a fixed plurality of predetermined RNP transition points for the aircraft to fly to when moving from the downwind leg to the final approach leg; and

routing the aircraft flying in RNP mode using the determined RNP transition point and speed of approach so that the aircraft flying in RNP mode can approach the runway and maintain its separation and sequencing relative to other aircraft approaching the runway;

and for aircraft not flying in RNP mode;

routing an aircraft not flying in RNP mode from a waypoint to a downwind leg of a runway approach;

determining, using sequencing and separation requirements, one of the fixed plurality of predetermined RNP transition points and speed of approach for the runway approach;

routing the aircraft not flying in RNP mode to the determined RNP transition point for a turn to the runway approach; and

monitoring the speed and direction of approach of the aircraft not flying in RNP mode to maintain its separation and sequencing relative to other aircraft approaching the runway.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein a plurality of aircraft including both aircraft flying in RNP mode and aircraft not flying in RNP mode are stacked on the runway approach.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the aircraft not flying in RNP mode are RNAV-enabled aircraft.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein determining one of a fixed plurality of predetermined RNP transition points for the runway approach comprises selecting one of the predetermined RNP transition points based in part on a speed of the aircraft.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the fixed plurality of predetermined RNP transition points includes a plurality of constant radius turnpoints each having a location selected for traffic spacing.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising storing the fixed plurality of predetermined RNP transition points within a flight management system of the aircraft flying in RNP mode.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising transmitting the fixed plurality of predetermined RNP transition points from an air traffic control system to aircraft.

8. A navigational system for an aircraft comprising:

a computer;

a memory associated with said computer; and

a control system operative through said computer and said memory, said control system configured with RNP procedures, wherein the RNP procedures comprise a fixed plurality of predetermined RNP transition points stored in said memory, said RNP transition points defining where the aircraft can be controlled to enter an airport runway approach at an assigned speed.

9. A navigational system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said fixed plurality of predetermined RNP transition points define starting points for a corresponding plurality of constant radius turnpoints.

10. A navigational system in accordance with claim 8 wherein said fixed plurality of predetermined RNP transition points define locations selected for traffic spacing.

11. A navigational system in accordance with claim 8 configured to maintain an accuracy of not more than 0.30 NM variance about a predetermined path.

12. A required navigation performance (RNP) approach method comprising:

providing a plurality of fixed, predetermined waypoints for at least one runway of at least one airport;

providing a predetermined plurality of constant radius turnpoints connecting a downwind leg of the runway to a final approach leg of the runway; and

assigning one of the constant radius turnpoints to an aircraft capable of flying an RNP approach, the turnpoint selected to provide separation from other approaching aircraft and a landing time for the aircraft.

13. The RNP approach method according to claim 12 further comprising providing approach instructions to aircraft not flying an RNP approach such that the aircraft utilizes one of the constant radius turnpoints as it transitions from the downwind leg to the final approach leg.

14. The RNP approach method according to claim 12 wherein providing a predetermined plurality of constant radius turnpoints comprises at least one of:

storing the constant radius turnpoints in a flight management system of an aircraft; and

communicating the constant radius turnpoints from an air traffic control system to an approaching aircraft.

15. An air traffic control (ATC) system comprising:

a processing device;

a memory; and

an interface for communicating with aircraft,

said system programmed with a plurality of geographical points that define, with respect to a runway, a downwind approach path, a final approach path, and a plurality of constant radius paths connecting the downwind approach path to the final approach path,

said system further programmed to;

define an approach path for an approaching aircraft by selecting one of the constant radius paths for the aircraft to fly; and

assign a speed for the aircraft to maintain at various points along the defined approach path, the defined approach path and assigned speed calculated to maintain a separation between other aircraft flying defined approach paths, at assigned speeds, that include one of the constant radius paths.

16. An ATC system according to claim 15 wherein said system is programmed to, based on the assigned speeds, determine a time the aircraft will be at each geographical point of the approach path.

17. An ATC system according to claim 15 wherein defining an approach path comprises communicating a ground path to the aircraft.

18. An ATC system according to claim 15 wherein said system is programmed to assign one of the constant radius paths to an aircraft to provide a known timing between the aircraft and other aircraft flying the final approach path.