Flight management system with precision merging
First Claim
1. A method for creating space between an aircraft and a target aircraft;
- comprising;
identifying a target aircraft and a time of arrival of said target aircraft at a waypoint, said target aircraft beginning a landing approach after passing said waypoint, said time of arrival at said waypoint being determined from information received from said target aircraft across an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link, said automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link including position, speed, heading and altitude information of said target aircraft;
receiving a heading for said aircraft from air traffic control;
retrieving spacing information between said target aircraft and said aircraft from at least one of air traffic control or said aircraft, said spacing information referring to a period of time;
determining a location for a rejoin turn to said waypoint;
navigating said rejoin turn to said waypoint automatically when said aircraft arrives at said location for said rejoin turn to said waypoint, said aircraft beginning said landing approach after passing said waypoint; and
displaying said location for said rejoin turn to said waypoint, wherein said location of rejoin turn to said waypoint causing aircraft to reach said waypoint after said target aircraft by a delay of said spacing information, wherein said automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link is a direct link between said target aircraft and said aircraft.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a flight management system with precision merging that may determine a rejoin turn location based upon a heading to allow proper spacing between an aircraft and an identified target aircraft. The flight management system may monitor for deviation from assigned airspace, winds, turn radius and desired airport speed profile for the approach to further refine a turn-back location. Advantageously, a delay in landing of the target aircraft may not affect the landing approach of other aircraft. This may result in more accurate spacing between aircraft which are closer to the allowed separation minima and may provide an increase in capacity especially in high-density areas.
53 Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A method for creating space between an aircraft and a target aircraft;
- comprising;
identifying a target aircraft and a time of arrival of said target aircraft at a waypoint, said target aircraft beginning a landing approach after passing said waypoint, said time of arrival at said waypoint being determined from information received from said target aircraft across an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link, said automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link including position, speed, heading and altitude information of said target aircraft; receiving a heading for said aircraft from air traffic control; retrieving spacing information between said target aircraft and said aircraft from at least one of air traffic control or said aircraft, said spacing information referring to a period of time; determining a location for a rejoin turn to said waypoint; navigating said rejoin turn to said waypoint automatically when said aircraft arrives at said location for said rejoin turn to said waypoint, said aircraft beginning said landing approach after passing said waypoint; and displaying said location for said rejoin turn to said waypoint, wherein said location of rejoin turn to said waypoint causing aircraft to reach said waypoint after said target aircraft by a delay of said spacing information, wherein said automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link is a direct link between said target aircraft and said aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10)
- comprising;
-
9. A flight management system;
- comprising;
means for identifying a target aircraft and a time of arrival of said target aircraft at a waypoint, said target aircraft beginning a landing approach after passing said waypoint, said time of arrival at said waypoint being determined from information received from said target aircraft across an automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link, said automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link including position, speed, heading and altitude information of said target aircraft; means for receiving a heading for said aircraft from air traffic control; means for retrieving a spacing information between said target aircraft and said aircraft from at least one of air traffic control or said aircraft, said spacing information referring to a period of time; means for determining a location for a rejoin turn to said waypoint; means for navigating said rejoin turn to said waypoint automatically when said aircraft arrives at said location for said rejoin turn to said waypoint, said aircraft beginning said landing approach after passing said waypoint; and displaying said location for said rejoin turn to said waypoint, wherein said location of rejoin turn to a waypoint causing aircraft to reach said waypoint after said target aircraft by a delay of said spacing information, wherein said automatic dependent surveillance broadcast communication link is a direct link between said target aircraft and said aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (11)
- comprising;
Specification