Process for verifying the coherence between aircraft take-off parameters and an available runway length

• US 8,380,372 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Michal, Benedicte, Pitard, Fabien, Demortier, Jean-Pierre, Charbonnier, Christine, Lacaze, Isabelle, Marchand, Gael, Le Duigou, Christine, Cayrou, Jerome, Blondin, Vincent, Lemoult, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Application Number:
  US12/537,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20100094488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 701/3, 701/15, 701/207, 701/301, 340/945
• US Class Current: 701/15
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0065 for taking-off
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

A method for verifying coherence of takeoff parameters of an aircraft from an airport with an available runway length at a moment of takeoff comprises a step of identifying a takeoff runway and a step of validating takeoff parameters with a view to authorizing takeoff of the aircraft if the takeoff distance is shorter than the remaining runway length associated with the identified takeoff runway.

Claims

1. A method for verifying coherence of takeoff parameters of an aircraft from an airport with an available runway length at a moment of takeoff, the method comprising:

identifying a takeoff runway, including the following steps performed by a processor

acquiring a position of the aircraft on a ground,

extracting position data of a set of takeoff runways of the airport from an airport database,

comparing the position of the aircraft and the position data of the set of takeoff runways of the airport with a view to identifying the takeoff runway, and

alerting a pilot to signal disagreement between the identified takeoff runway and a planned takeoff runway provided during preparation for takeoff; and

validating takeoff parameters, including

calculating a takeoff distance from one or more of the takeoff parameters by calculating a single phase of ground roll having a length equal to a real takeoff length corresponding to a phase of ground roll and a phase of initial climb to a predetermined altitude,

extracting an available runway length associated with the takeoff runway identified in the airport database,

determining a remaining runway length from the available runway length extracted from the position of the aircraft, and

comparing the calculated takeoff distance and the remaining runway length and authorizing takeoff of the aircraft if the calculated takeoff distance is shorter than the remaining runway length.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, in the identifying the takeoff runway, in case of failure of the comparing the position of the aircraft and the position data of the set of takeoff runways, alerting the pilot to signal that no takeoff runway of the airport has been identified as being in agreement with the position of the aircraft.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

extracting position data of the planned takeoff runway during preparation for takeoff based on the airport database;

comparing the position of the aircraft and the position of the planned takeoff runway; and

the identifying the takeoff runway is employed in case of disagreement between the position of the aircraft and the position of the planned takeoff runway.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the validating the takeoff parameters is employed periodically up to a predetermined maximum speed of the aircraft.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculating the takeoff distance is employed in the flight management system.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined altitude is between 0 and approximately 10 m.

7. An aircraft comprising a flight management system and an on-board airport navigation system for verifying coherence of takeoff parameters of the aircraft from an airport with an available runway length at a moment of takeoff, comprising:

an identifying section configured to identify a takeoff runway, the identifying section including

an acquiring section configured to acquire a position of the aircraft on a ground,

an extracting section configured to extract position data of a set of takeoff runways of the airport from an airport database,

a comparing section configured to compare the position of the aircraft and the position data of the set of takeoff runways of the airport with a view to identifying the takeoff runway, and

an alerting section configured to alert a pilot to signal disagreement between the identified takeoff runway and a planned takeoff runway provided during preparation for takeoff; and

a validating section configured to validate takeoff parameters, the validating section including

a calculating section configured to calculate a takeoff distance from one or more of the takeoff parameters by calculating a single phase of ground roll having a length equal to a real takeoff length corresponding to a phase of ground roll and a phase of initial climb to a predetermined altitude,

an extracting section configured to extract an available runway length associated with the takeoff runway identified in the airport database,

a determining section configured to determine a remaining runway length from the available runway length extracted from the position of the aircraft, and

a comparing section configured to compare the calculated takeoff distance and the remaining runway length and to authorize takeoff of the aircraft if the calculated takeoff distance is shorter than the remaining runway length.