Fuel saving aircraft descent calculator
First Claim
1. A manually operable calculator for calculating a beginning of descent position to optimize aircraft fuel consumption during descent from an actual altitude and distance to a target altitude and distance, comprising:
- a first member having a distance scale displayed thereon,a second member having a first altitude scale displayed thereon, said first altitude scale being proportional in terms of indicated air speed below a predetermined altitude,said first and second members being mutually alignable and said distance and first altitude scales being proportioned so that, when a target distance on the distance scale is aligned with a target altitude on the first altitude scale, the actual altitude on the first altitude scale is aligned with a desired fuel efficient distance on the distance scale for commencing the descent, for a given aircraft weight and speed and a given wind condition,an aircraft weight and wind correction scale means, said correction scale means providing a correction factor to adjust the indicated distance for commencing a descent based upon the aircraft weight and prevailing wind conditions, andmeans mutually securing said first and second members for relative aligned movement.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A manually operable calculator for optimizing aircraft fuel consumption during descent from an actual altitude to a target altitude/distance. Altitude and distance scales are provided which are alignable to determine an uncorrected fuel efficient distance to commence a descent from a given altitude to a target location, with separate scales being provided for different airspeeds. Wind and weight correction scales are also provided which give a distance correction based upon the aircraft'"'"'s weight, prevailing wind conditions, and the difference between beginning and target altitudes. In the preferred embodiment a plurality of altitude scales are employed, each scale having thereon an altitude display which is proportioned in accordance with a respective air speed and given in terms of mach speed for altitudes above a mach speed/I.A.S. transition point, and in terms of I.A.S. below that point. In this embodiment a single, linear distance scale is employed.
24 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A manually operable calculator for calculating a beginning of descent position to optimize aircraft fuel consumption during descent from an actual altitude and distance to a target altitude and distance, comprising:
-
a first member having a distance scale displayed thereon, a second member having a first altitude scale displayed thereon, said first altitude scale being proportional in terms of indicated air speed below a predetermined altitude, said first and second members being mutually alignable and said distance and first altitude scales being proportioned so that, when a target distance on the distance scale is aligned with a target altitude on the first altitude scale, the actual altitude on the first altitude scale is aligned with a desired fuel efficient distance on the distance scale for commencing the descent, for a given aircraft weight and speed and a given wind condition, an aircraft weight and wind correction scale means, said correction scale means providing a correction factor to adjust the indicated distance for commencing a descent based upon the aircraft weight and prevailing wind conditions, and means mutually securing said first and second members for relative aligned movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A manually operable calculator for calculating a beginning of descent position to optimize aircraft fuel consumption during descent from an actual altitude and distance to a target altitude and distance, comprising:
-
a first member having a distance scale displayed thereon, a plurality of additional members, each of said additional members being alignable with said first member, and having respective altitude scales displayed thereon extending over substantially equal altitude ranges, each of said altitude scales being proportioned in terms of indicated air speed below respective predetermined altitudes to correspond to respective predetermined aircraft speeds, said distance and each of said altitude scales being respectively proportioned so that, when a target distance on the distance scale is aligned with a target altitude on a respective altitude scale, the actual altitude on said respective altitude scale is aligned with a desired fuel efficient distance on the distance scale for commencing the descent, and means mutually securing said first and additional members for relative aligned movement. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A manually operable calculator for calculating a beginning of descent position to optimize aircraft fuel consumption during descent from an actual altitude and distance to a target altitude and distance, comprising:
-
a first member having a distance scale displayed thereon, display means having a plurality of altitude scales displayed thereon extending over substantially equal altitude ranges, each of said altitude scales being proportioned in terms of indicated air speed below respective predetermined altitudes to correspond to respective predetermined aircraft speeds and respectively alignable with said distance scale, each of said altitude scales extending over approximately equal altitude ranges, said distance scale and each of said altitude scales being respectively proportioned so that, when a target distance on the distance scale is aligned with a target altitude on a respective altitude scale, the actual altitude on said respective altitude scale is aligned with a desired fuel efficient distance on the distance scale for commencing the descent, and means mutually securing said first member and said display means for relative aligned movement. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
Specification