Flight control system and method for an aircraft circle-to-land maneuver
First Claim
1. A method for landing an aircraft on a designated runway at a predetermined airport including executing a circle-to-land maneuver comprising the steps of:
- selecting a standard terminal arrival path;
directing the aircraft to a starting point of a standard terminal arrival path;
following the standard terminal arrival path to a first waypoint for initiation of the circle-to-land maneuver; and
allowing an airborne area navigator system to calculate and to control the circle-to-land maneuver including a downwind leg to a second waypoint and a base leg to a third waypoint to align the aircraft with a final leg directed to the designated runway.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flight control system and method for controlling a circle-to-land (“CTL”) maneuver utilizes an airborne area navigator. The area navigator receives inputs on aircraft category, aircraft position and speed, airport navigation data and pilot supplied data. In response to this data, the area navigator calculates the necessary conditions for executing the CTL maneuver and outputs control commands to a flight director. The pilot then executes the CTL maneuver either manually using the information provided by the area navigator or by using the aircraft autopilot under the direction of the flight director.
57 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for landing an aircraft on a designated runway at a predetermined airport including executing a circle-to-land maneuver comprising the steps of:
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selecting a standard terminal arrival path;
directing the aircraft to a starting point of a standard terminal arrival path;
following the standard terminal arrival path to a first waypoint for initiation of the circle-to-land maneuver; and
allowing an airborne area navigator system to calculate and to control the circle-to-land maneuver including a downwind leg to a second waypoint and a base leg to a third waypoint to align the aircraft with a final leg directed to the designated runway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A flight control system for automatically controlling a circle-to-land maneuver of an aircraft comprising:
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an onboard area navigator;
sensors coupled to first inputs of the area navigator for inputting aircraft position and velocity data;
second inputs to the area navigator for receiving pilot-supplied data;
third inputs to the area navigator for receiving airport-specific data;
a flight director coupled to a first output of the area navigator to receive commands from the area navigator, the commands responsive to data received at the first, second, and third inputs;
an autopilot capable of controlling the flight of the aircraft;
a pilot-operable switch coupled between the flight director and the autopilot for selectively engaging the autopilot; and
an operator cockpit display coupled to a second output of the area navigator for providing flight information to a pilot, the information responsive to data received at the first, second, and third inputs. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An onboard flight control system for automatically controlling a circle-to-land maneuver of an aircraft comprising:
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an onboard area navigator programmed to determine an appropriate circle-to-land maneuver in response to data supplied to the onboard area navigator;
inputs coupled to the onboard area navigator to convey the data to the onboard area navigator; and
a visual display coupled to an output of the onboard area navigator to display operating information to a flight crew aboard the aircraft, the operating information responsive to data received by the inputs. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for executing a circle-to-land maneuver for an aircraft by utilizing area navigator and autopilot systems onboard an aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:
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determining a runway selected for landing;
selecting an approach path for initiating the circle-to-land maneuver;
entering data concerning desired flight conditions into the area navigator to allow the area navigator to calculate lateral and vertical navigation required for the circle-to-land maneuver;
directing the aircraft to the waypoint at which the circle-to-land maneuver is to begin; and
allowing the autopilot, directed by the area navigator, to execute the maneuver from the waypoint to the selected runway. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A method for landing an aircraft on a designated runway at a predetermined airport including executing a circle-to-land maneuver, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing an airborne area navigator system programmed to designate the ground track for the circle-to-land maneuver onto the designated runway at the predetermined airport;
designating a ground track for the circle-to-land maneuver;
providing instructions to the aircraft from the airborne area navigator system directing the aircraft to intercept the circle-to-land maneuver at an intercept predetermined by a flight crew aboard the aircraft;
upon intercept of the circle-to-land maneuver, allowing the airborne area navigator system to direct the aircraft to follow the ground track for the circle-to-land maneuver. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification