Aircraft descent guide system and method for creating descent guidance information
First Claim
1. A method for guiding a descent of an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. determining a position of the aircraft and providing a first output corresponding to the position;
b. inputting information representing a lower descent position P0 as well as first and second aircraft descent parameters for conducting said descent;
c. generating a descent guideslope which is formed by at least upper and lower descent legs, in which the lower descent leg includes the lower descent position P0 and an upper descent position P1, and the upper descent leg includes the upper descent position P1 and a further upper descent position P2, in a manner that a location of the upper descent position P1 relative to the lower descent position P0 is calculated as a function of the first descent parameters, and a location of the further upper descent position P2 relative to the upper descent position P1 is calculated as a function of the second descent parameters; and
d. guiding the aircraft in response to the first output and the descent guideslope.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An aircraft navigational system includes a digital computer, a first visual output for displaying to an aircrew a geometrical representation of an optimum descent guideslope relative to a symbol representing the location of the aircraft, and a second visual output for displaying optimum descent guideslope information, such as altitude and distance, alphanumerically. The visual display provides guidance information to the aircrew to control the descent of the aircraft along an optimum descent guideslope which is referenced to a selected end of descent waypoint such as a destination airport or to an instrument approach marker. The guideslope is calculated in accordance with predetermined airspeed and altitude requirements with define a descent profile which is fuel efficient and which complies with aviation regulations regarding maximum airspeed limitations. The navigational system includes a keypad interfaced with the computer to allow the aircrew to enter data inflight to generate the visual and alphanumerical display of the optimum descent guideslope.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for guiding a descent of an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. determining a position of the aircraft and providing a first output corresponding to the position; b. inputting information representing a lower descent position P0 as well as first and second aircraft descent parameters for conducting said descent; c. generating a descent guideslope which is formed by at least upper and lower descent legs, in which the lower descent leg includes the lower descent position P0 and an upper descent position P1, and the upper descent leg includes the upper descent position P1 and a further upper descent position P2, in a manner that a location of the upper descent position P1 relative to the lower descent position P0 is calculated as a function of the first descent parameters, and a location of the further upper descent position P2 relative to the upper descent position P1 is calculated as a function of the second descent parameters; and d. guiding the aircraft in response to the first output and the descent guideslope. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of generating an informational slope for guiding an aircraft descent, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing information representing a lower descent position P0 as well as first and second aircraft descent parameters; b. calculating a first distance and a first altitude of a position P1 from position P0 as a function of a projected distance and altitude to be flown by the aircraft when descending to position P0 in accordance with the first descent parameters; c. calculating a second distance and a second altitude of a position P2 from position P1 as a function of a projected distance and altitude to be flown by the aircraft when descending to position P1 in accordance with the second operating parameters; d. forming the informational slope from positions P0, P1, and P2 ; and e. guiding the aircraft in response to the informational slope. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of generating an informational slope for guiding an aircraft descent, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing information representing a lower descent position P0 as well as first and second aircraft descent parameters; b. generating upper and lower descent legs which form the informational slope, in a manner that (i) the lower descent leg includes the lower descent position P0 and an upper descent position P1, and (ii) the upper descent leg includes the upper descent position P1 and a further upper descent position P2, and so that a location of the upper descent position P1 is calculated relative to the lower descent position P0 as a function of the first descent parameters, and then a location of the position P2 is calculated relative to the upper descent position P1 as a function of the second descent parameters; and c. guiding the aircraft in response to the informational slope. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification