Method and device for generating a flight plan for a tactical flight of an aircraft

• US 7,272,491 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2004
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Berard, Jérémy
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Gary
• Application Number:
  US10/883,803
• Time in Patent Office: 1,169 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/4, 701/10, 701/14, 701201-204, 701/206, 244180-183, 731/78.R
• US Class Current: 701/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0034 Assembly of a flight plan

Abstract

A flight plan for a tactical flight of an aircraft is generated using first input data including initial weight and initial loading of the aircraft, meteorological data, points of transit of the flight plan and at least one optimization criterion. With the aid of the input data and by implementing a prediction function and an optimization function, a flight profile of the flight plan is determined. The profile includes for each point of transit of the flight plan, a plurality of predictive information items and, between two successive points of transit of the flight plan, optimized parameters. The flight plan is presented on a display screen. A second input allows an operator to enter, for each tactical event of the tactical flight, a variation of at least one parameter which is modified by this tactical event at a particular point of variation of the flight plan. The flight profile is determined using each parameter variation which is taken into account at the corresponding point of variation.

Claims

1. A method of generating a flight plan for a tactical flight of an aircraft, said method comprising:

a) defining input data comprising at least data of initial weight and initial loading of the aircraft, meteorological data, points of transit of the flight plan and at least one optimization criterion; and

b) determining, with the aid of said input data, by implementing a prediction function and an optimization function, (i) a flight profile of said flight plan comprising, for each point of transit of the flight plan, a plurality of predictive information and (ii) between two successive points of transit of the flight plan, optimized parameters, wherein;

α

) tactical events of said tactical flight, to be taken into account, are selected;

β

) for each tactical event thus selected, at least one parameter which is modified by said tactical event at a particular point of variation of the flight plan, as well as the variation of said parameter, corresponding to said modification, are determined; and

δ

) each parameter variation thus determined, taken into account at the corresponding point of variation, is used in step b) to determine said flight profile.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in step α

);

α

1) scheduled tactical events are defined; and

α

2) out of all the scheduled tactical events thus defined, those which are to be taken into account are selected.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optimization criterion defines a ratio of the fuel consumption of the aircraft to the flight time.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said predictive information comprises, for each point of transit, at least the time of transit, the speed of transit, the altitude of transit and the weight of fuel remaining on board the aircraft.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optimized parameters comprise at least the optimal speed and, as appropriate, the optimal cruising altitude, between two successive points of transit.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tactical events comprise at least one of the following events:

an in-flight drop, an in-flight refueling and a tactical step comprising a landing.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one parameter which is modified corresponds to one of the following parameters:

the weight of the load transported by the aircraft;

the weight of fuel on board the aircraft;

the empty weight of the aircraft;

the time of transit; and

the position of the center of gravity of the aircraft; and

the aerodynamic configuration of the aircraft.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said particular point of variation corresponds:

to the end of drop point, for a drop;

to the end of refueling point, for a refueling carried out by the aircraft in the guise of tanker;

to the start of refueling point, for a refueling carried out by the aircraft in the guise of refueled aircraft; and

to the start point of the landing strip, for a tactical step.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in step β

), the following are determined as parameter variation;

for a drop, the decrease in the weight of the load transported by the aircraft;

for a refueling carried out by the aircraft in the guise of tanker, the decrease in the weight of fuel on board the aircraft;

for a refueling carried out by the aircraft in the guise of refueled aircraft, the increase in the weight of fuel on board the aircraft; and

for a tactical step, the possible variation of the weight of the load transported, the possible variation of the weight of fuel on board the aircraft and the stoppage time on the ground.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in step δ

), for at least one parameter, direct use is made of the variation of said parameter.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in step δ

), for at least one parameter, use is made of an estimated value of said at least one parameter, at the end of a tactical event corresponding thereto, which takes account of the variation of said at least one parameter.

12. A device for generating a flight plan for a tactical flight of an aircraft, said device comprising:

a first input section for allowing an operator to enter input data comprising at least data of initial weight and initial loading of the aircraft, meteorological data, points of transit of the flight plan and at least one optimization criterion;

a central unit for determining, with the aid of said input data, by implementing a prediction function and an optimization function, a flight profile of said flight plan comprising, for each point of transit of the flight plan, a plurality of predictive information and, between two successive points of transit of the flight plan, optimized parameters; and

a display section for presenting, on a display screen, the flight profile determined by said central unit, wherein;

said device further comprises a second input section for allowing said operator to enter, for each tactical event of the tactical flight, the variation of at least one parameter which is modified by said tactical event at a particular point of variation of the flight plan; and

said central unit uses, to determine said flight profile, each parameter variation which has been entered with the aid of said second input section and which is taken into account at the corresponding point of variation.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said device furthermore comprises at least one database containing parameter variations associated with tactical events;

said second input section allow said operator to enter tactical events; and

said central unit automatically uses the parameter variations contained in said database and associated with a particular tactical event, when the operator enters said tactical event with the aid of said second input section, to determine said flight profile.

14. An aircraft, which comprises a device (1) comprising:

a) a data defining section which defines input data comprising at least data of initial weight and initial loading of the aircraft, meteorological data, points of transit (P1 to P5) of the flight plan and at least one optimization criterion;

b) a determining section that determines, with the aid of said input data, by implementing a prediction function and an optimization function, (i) a flight profile of said flight plan (PV) comprising, for each point of transit (P1 to P5) of the flight plan, a plurality of predictive information (T1 to T5, V1 to V5, A1 to A5, FOB1 to FOB5) and (ii) between two successive points of transit of the flight plan, optimized parameters;

c) a selection section that selects tactical events of said tactical flight, to be taken into account; and

d) an input section that determines, for each tactical event thus selected, at least one parameter which is modified by said tactical event at a particular point of variation of the flight plan, as well as the variation of said parameter, corresponding to said modification, wherein;

said determining section determines said flight profile by employing each parameter variation thus determined, taken into account at the corresponding point of variation.

15. An aircraft, which comprises a device, said device comprising:

a first input section allowing an operator to enter input data comprising at least data of initial weight and initial loading of the aircraft, meteorological data, points of transit of the flight plan and at least one optimization criterion;

a central unit for determining, with the aid of said input data, by implementing a prediction function and an optimization function, a flight profile of said flight plan comprising, for each point of transit of the flight plan, a plurality of predictive information and, between two successive points of transit of the flight plan, optimized parameters; and

a display section for presenting, on a display screen, the flight profile determined by said central unit, wherein;

said device further comprises a second input section allowing said operator to enter, for each tactical event of the tactical flight, the variation of at least one parameter which is modified by said tactical event at a particular point of variation of the flight plan; and

said central unit uses, to determine said flight profile, each parameter variation which has been entered with the aid of said second input section and which is taken into account at the corresponding point of variation.