METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING AIR TRAFFIC
First Claim
1. A method of negotiating air traffic comprising multiple aircraft that are within an airspace surrounding an airport and scheduled to arrive at a point, such as a runway of the airport or at an intermediate metering fix, each of the multiple aircraft having existing trajectory parameters comprising altitude, speed and lateral route thereof, the method comprising:
- monitoring of the altitude, speed and lateral route of each aircraft of the multiple aircraft as the aircraft enters the airspace, the monitoring being performed with an air traffic control (ATC) system that is not located on any of the multiple aircraft;
generating with the ATC system a scheduled time-of-arrival (STA) for each of the multiple aircraft at least one metering fix point;
storing the STA for each aircraft;
receiving or inferring data with the ATC system for at least a first of the multiple aircraft, the data comprising a minimum fuel-cost speed and predicted trajectory parameters of the first aircraft, the predicted trajectory parameters comprising predicted altitude, speed and lateral route of the first aircraft based on current values of the existing trajectory parameters of the first aircraft modified by any unintentional modifications thereto;
receiving or generating auxiliary data for the first aircraft using the predicted trajectory parameters of the first aircraft, the auxiliary data comprising an earliest estimated time-of-arrival (ETAmin) and a latest estimated time-of-arrival (ETAmax) for the first aircraft at the metering fix point;
performing a computation with the ATC system to determine if the STA of the first aircraft is in or outside an ETA range bounded by the ETAmin and the ETAmax thereof;
transmitting to the first aircraft instructions to ensure that the first aircraft will arrive at the metering fix point at the STA or the ETAmin of the first aircraft; and
updating the STA for each aircraft stored in the queue.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems scheduling and negotiating air traffic within an airspace surrounding an airport and scheduled to land at the airport. An air traffic control (ATC) system is used to monitor the altitudes, speeds and lateral routes of aircraft as they enter the airspace. The ATC system generates a scheduled time-of-arrival (STA) for each aircraft at one or more meter fix points associated with the airport, the STA for each aircraft is stored, and data is received or inferred with the ATC system for at least a first of the aircraft, including a minimum fuel-cost speed and predicted trajectory parameters of the first aircraft based on current values of its existing trajectory parameters. Auxiliary data, including earliest and latest estimated time-of-arrival ETAmin and ETAmax at the meter fix point, are generated for the first aircraft using the predicted trajectory parameters. The ATC system determines whether the STA of the first aircraft is in or outside an ETA range bounded by its ETAmin and ETAmax. Instructions are transmitted to the first aircraft to ensure its arrival at the meter fix point at the STA or the ETAmin of the first aircraft, and the STA is updated for each aircraft stored in the queue.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of negotiating air traffic comprising multiple aircraft that are within an airspace surrounding an airport and scheduled to arrive at a point, such as a runway of the airport or at an intermediate metering fix, each of the multiple aircraft having existing trajectory parameters comprising altitude, speed and lateral route thereof, the method comprising:
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monitoring of the altitude, speed and lateral route of each aircraft of the multiple aircraft as the aircraft enters the airspace, the monitoring being performed with an air traffic control (ATC) system that is not located on any of the multiple aircraft; generating with the ATC system a scheduled time-of-arrival (STA) for each of the multiple aircraft at least one metering fix point; storing the STA for each aircraft; receiving or inferring data with the ATC system for at least a first of the multiple aircraft, the data comprising a minimum fuel-cost speed and predicted trajectory parameters of the first aircraft, the predicted trajectory parameters comprising predicted altitude, speed and lateral route of the first aircraft based on current values of the existing trajectory parameters of the first aircraft modified by any unintentional modifications thereto; receiving or generating auxiliary data for the first aircraft using the predicted trajectory parameters of the first aircraft, the auxiliary data comprising an earliest estimated time-of-arrival (ETAmin) and a latest estimated time-of-arrival (ETAmax) for the first aircraft at the metering fix point; performing a computation with the ATC system to determine if the STA of the first aircraft is in or outside an ETA range bounded by the ETAmin and the ETAmax thereof; transmitting to the first aircraft instructions to ensure that the first aircraft will arrive at the metering fix point at the STA or the ETAmin of the first aircraft; and updating the STA for each aircraft stored in the queue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system adapted to negotiate air traffic comprising multiple aircraft that are within an airspace surrounding an airport and scheduled to arrive at a point, such as a runway of the airport or at an intermediate metering fix, each of the multiple aircraft having existing trajectory parameters comprising altitude, speed and lateral route thereof, the system comprising:
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means for monitoring of the altitude, speed and lateral route of each aircraft of the multiple aircraft as the aircraft enters the airspace; means for generating a scheduled time-of-arrival (STA) for each of the multiple aircraft at least one metering fix point associated with the airport; means for storing the STA for each aircraft in a queue; means for receiving or inferring data for at least a first of the multiple aircraft, the data comprising a minimum fuel-cost speed and predicted trajectory parameters of the first aircraft, the predicted trajectory parameters comprising predicted altitude, speed and lateral route of the first aircraft based on current values of the existing trajectory parameters of the first aircraft modified by any unintentional modifications thereto; means for receiving or generating auxiliary data for the first aircraft using the predicted trajectory parameters of the first aircraft, the auxiliary data comprising an earliest estimated time-of-arrival (ETAmin) and a latest estimated time-of-arrival (ETAmax) for the first aircraft at the metering fix point; means for performing a computation to determine if the STA of the first aircraft is in or outside an ETA range bounded by the ETAmin and the ETAmax thereof; transmitting to the first aircraft instructions to ensure that the first aircraft will arrive at the metering fix point at the STA or the ETAmin of the first aircraft; and means for updating the STA for each aircraft stored in the queue; wherein the monitoring means, the STA-generating means, the data receiving or inferring means, and the computation performing means are components of an air traffic control (ATC) system that is not located on any of the multiple aircraft.
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Specification