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Accurate determination of intended ground track with flight management system device and method

  • US 9,704,406 B1
  • Filed: 03/08/2016
  • Issued: 07/11/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:

  • determining, by a flight management system comprising a processor, a ground track for a flight leg of an active flight plan based at least on a spherical earth model, the flight leg comprising two waypoints comprising a first waypoint and a second waypoint that are specified with an ellipsoidal earth model;

    determining, by the flight management system, that a parameter associated with the ground track for the flight leg exceeds a predetermined threshold;

    in response to determining that the parameter associated with the ground track for the flight leg exceeds the predetermined threshold, inserting, by the flight management system, at least one anchor point on a geodesic and between the two waypoints, the geodesic associated with the ellipsoidal earth model;

    modifying, by the flight management system, the ground track for the flight leg to include at least two spherical earth model path segments spanning from the first waypoint through the at least one anchor point to the second waypoint, each of the at least two spherical earth model path segments computed based at least on the spherical earth model, wherein modifying the ground track for the flight leg effects a course change to the ground track between the two waypoints of the flight leg such that an intended flight path is within specified thresholds; and

    storing data associated with the modified ground track in a non-transitory processor-readable medium.

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