Electronic device and method for optimizing vertical profile for cruise phase of flight

Abstract

The invention relates to electronic devices and methods for optimizing a vertical profile for the cruise phase of a flight. The electronic devices and methods are used for optimizing the vertical profile to be flown by an aircraft during the cruise phase of a flight. Based on continuously updated information about the aircraft's weight and the atmospheric wind and temperature, the method providesan optimal sequence of climbs and / or descents along the flight path during the cruise phase. Following the step climb / descent profile proposed by the method results in the most cost-optimal flight (ifa cost index was selected) or in the most fuel-efficient flight (if the long-range cruise mode was selected). The method may be implemented in the flight management computer or any other electronic data processing device that can access the required information to perform the calculations.

Description

technical field [0001] The present disclosure generally relates to electronic devices and methods for optimizing the cruise profile of an aircraft. The cruise profile of the aircraft includes a cruise speed profile indicative of changes in speed along the planned flight path during the cruise segment and a cruise vertical profile indicative of changes in altitude along the planned flight path during the cruise segment. In particular, the present disclosure relates to electronic devices and methods for optimizing the cruise vertical profile of an aircraft. Background technique [0002] Aircraft operators generally aim to achieve the lowest cost of flying from point A to point B. The direct operating costs of the mission are driven by time-related costs and fuel costs. The relationship of these two types of costs is set by a so-called cost index (CI). A prior art flight management computer (FMC) enables the flight crew to enter the CI accompanying the calculation via the co...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Disadvantages of FMC-based functions include the following: (a) the vertical profile found does not necessarily lead to the global minimum cost; and (b) does not take into account favorable landings

Disadvantages of offline / ground-based functionality include the following: (a) the most current wind speed and temperature forecasts are not considered; (b) flight path changes are not considered; and (c) vertical profile optimization is static, i.e., during flight , cannot dynamically recalculate

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