Method and device to assist in the piloting of an aircraft in a non-precision approach during a landing phase

• US 7,690,603 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Rouquette, Patrice, Jourdan, Christophe, Peyrucain, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone; Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin P
• Application Number:
  US10/781,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20040245408A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,237 Days
• Field of Search: 244/185, 244/186, 244187-195, 701/3, 701/14, 701/15, 701/16, 701/120, 701/18
• US Class Current: 244/183
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/018 Involving non-radio wave signals or measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0676 specially adapted for landing
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/02 Automatic approach or landing aids, i.e. systems in which flight data of incoming planes are processed to provide landing data landing aids fitted in or to aircraft B64D45/04; visual or acoustic landing aids B64F1/18

Abstract

A method to assist the piloting of an aircraft in a non-precision approach during a landing phase may include a series of successive steps that are carried out interactively and automatically. The steps include verifying, in accordance with respective standards of operation, conditions relating to the correct functioning of a plurality of equipment of the aircraft and to the integrity and precision of measurements of parameters used for implementing the non-precision approach, based on information from the plurality of equipment. On the basis of the verified conditions, an appropriate approach category is selected and presented on a display screen.

Claims

1. A method to assist the piloting of an aircraft in a non-precision approach during a landing phase, wherein a series of successive steps is carried out automatically, the series of steps comprising:

a) verifying, according to respective standards of operation, conditions relating to the correct functioning of a plurality of equipment of the aircraft and to the integrity and precision of measurements of parameters used for implementing the non-precision approach, based on information coming from the plurality of equipment;

b) selecting, on the basis of the verified conditions, one of a plurality of different non-precision approach categories; and

c) presenting the selected approach category on a display screen, wherein;

each non-precision approach category defines the approach mode or modes that are possible from among a plurality of approach modes including a plurality of assisted approach modes and a selected approach mode,

in step b) a first approach category is selected when the following conditions are verified simultaneously in step a);

two flight management computers of the aircraft are functioning correctly;

satellite positioning functions of two multimode landing assistance receivers of the aircraft are functioning correctly;

at least two inertial reference systems of the aircraft, integrating aerodynamic data, are functioning correctly;

at least one assisted approach mode function of at least one of the multimode landing assistance receivers is functioning correctly;

an altitude value of the aircraft has a precision that is greater than a predetermined value;

the integrity and precision of a position value of the aircraft are achieved; and

a position of the aircraft, calculated by at least one of the flight management computers, and a position of the aircraft, received from a satellite positioning system, are consistent, and

if the selected approach category is the first approach category, a pilot may choose any one of the various possible assisted approach modes as the approach mode for landing the aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the conditions verified in step a) include:

verifying the correct functioning of an assisted approach mode function of each of the two multimode landing assistance receivers;

verifying the correct functioning of each of three inertial reference systems, which integrate aerodynamic data;

verifying the correct functioning of an attitude and direction indicator of the aircraft;

or

verifying the uncertainty of the position value of the aircraft.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step a) further comprises verifying, according to a standard of operation, the correct functioning of an automatic pilot of the aircraft.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is performed by a device of the aircraft.