Methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating repairs for flight management systems

Abstract

The invention relates to a method, a system and a computer readable medium for generating a repair of a flight management system. Techniques for aircraft flight management are disclosed. The techniques include receiving a target value at a flight management system (FMS) of an aircraft, the target value including at least one of (i) an altitude target value and (ii) a time target value. The technique further includes determining a target aircraft position related to the target value based on the trajectory of the aircraft. The technique further includes calculating a distance by which the aircraft travels from the current aircraft location to the target aircraft location; and displaying the calculated distance in a user interface of the aircraft. The technique further includes providing the coordinates of the target aircraft position to the FMS for use in flight management of the aircraft.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to aircraft flight management. Background Art

[0002] The fix information function of an aircraft flight management system (FMS) enables the crew to determine the location of a point with specific characteristics relative to a custom fix (e.g., a navigation waypoint). For example, the fix information function can be used in a command display unit (CDU) to create various intercept points associated with a waypoint. This can include radial, range, radial range, and ABEAM intercept points. However, the fix information function on existing FMS lacks a variety of features and can be significantly improved. Summary of the invention

[0003] Embodiments include a method. The method includes receiving a target value at a flight management system (FMS) of an aircraft, the target value including at least one of (i) an altitude target value and (ii) a time target value. The method also includes determining a target aircraft position associated with the target value based on a trajectory of the aircraft. The method also includes calculating a distance traveled by the aircraft from a current aircraft position to the target aircraft position. The method also includes displaying the calculated distance in a user interface of the aircraft. The method also includes providing coordinates of the target aircraft position to the FMS for use in flight management of the aircraft.

[0004] Embodiments also include a non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer program code, which, when executed by operation of one or more computer processors, performs operations. The operations include receiving a target value at an FMS of an aircraft, the target value including at least one of (i) an altitude target value and (ii) a time target value. The operations also include determining a target aircraft position associated with the target value based on a trajectory of the aircraft. The operations also include calculating a distance traveled by the aircraft from a current aircraft position to the target aircraft position. The operations also include displaying the calculated distance in a user interface of the aircraft. The operations also include providing coordinates of the target aircraft position to the FMS for use in flight management of the aircraft.

[0005] Embodiments also include a system comprising: a computer processor; and a memory having instructions stored thereon, which when executed on the computer processor, perform operations. The operations include receiving a target value at an FMS of an aircraft, the target value including at least one of (i) an altitude target value and (ii) a time target value. The operations also include determining a target aircraft position associated with the target value based on a trajectory of the aircraft. The operations also include calculating a distance traveled by the aircraft from a current aircraft position to the target aircraft position. The operations also include displaying the calculated distance in a user interface of the aircraft. The operations also include providing coordinates of the target aircraft position to the FMS for use in flight management of the aircraft. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] In order that the manner in which the above-described features may be understood in detail, a more particular description briefly summarized above may be had by reference to exemplary aspects, some of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0007] Figure 1A Depicted is an exemplary repair information function in a CDU for an FMS according to one aspect.

[0008] Figure 1B Depicted is an exemplary radial repair intercept for an FMS according to one aspect.

[0009] Figure 2 A controller for altitude and time repair of an FMS is shown according to one aspect.

[0010] Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating updating a flight plan using altitude and time fixes for an FMS according to one aspect.

[0011] Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating determining a highly repaired intersection point according to one aspect.

[0012] Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating determining an intersection point for temporal repair according to one aspect.

[0013] Fig. 6A An exemplary altitude fix for an FMS is shown according to one aspect.

[0014] Figure 6B Shown are latitude and longitude for an altitude fix for an FMS according to one aspect. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] As discussed above, a fix information function on an FMS enables the crew to determine the location of a point with specific characteristics (radial, range, radial-range, or abeam) relative to a custom fix. However, existing fix information functions do not allow crew members (or the FMS) to determine the coordinates of an altitude or time target relative to a trajectory. One or more technologies disclosed herein provide an additional fix information feature that allows a user (e.g., crew member) to input an altitude and time (e.g., estimated time of arrival (ETA)) as input. The FMS determines the distance from the current aircraft position to the input area (e.g., along the trajectory).

[0016] In addition, in one aspect, the fix information function allows a user (e.g., a flight crew) to obtain coordinates (e.g., latitude and longitude) of an insertion location that meets desired altitude or time characteristics. The flight crew can use these coordinates to modify the flight plan and improve the navigation and control of the aircraft. For example, the inserted target coordinates can be stored in an electronic repository (e.g., a CDU scratch pad) and provided to the FMS to modify the flight plan. The flight crew can use the coordinates to add altitude or speed constraints, add a hold mode, add a plan step size, or make any other suitable modification.

[0017] On the one hand, providing altitude and time fix information features provides significant improvements to the aircraft FMS. For example, these features allow the FMS to directly access the calculated fix coordinates (e.g., latitude and longitude). This allows the FMS to accurately and seamlessly use the coordinates to modify the flight plan and improve aircraft control and navigation. For example, the fix coordinates can be added directly to the flight plan to enter restrictions, holds, required arrival time operations, planning steps, or for any other suitable flight plan use. In addition, the direct use of fix coordinates significantly reduces errors compared to previous solutions (e.g., manual calculations or indirect calculations outside the fix information function). This provides more accurate, efficient and safer travel for the aircraft.

[0018] In addition, one or more of the features described herein provide a significantly improved user interface for an FMS. Figure 6A-6B As described, the altitude and time fix information feature can be seamlessly integrated into the CDU user interface. In addition, the fix coordinates can be retrieved and viewed as part of the CDU user interface without requiring cumbersome additional steps or distracting the crew from flight navigation, and without requiring significant additional training or instruction to the crew.

[0019] Figure 1A An exemplary fix information function in a CDU for an FMS is depicted according to one aspect. As described above, the fix information function of the FMS enables the crew to determine the location of a point with a specific characteristic relative to a custom fix. In one aspect, the fix information function is included as part of the CDU 100. This is merely an example.

[0020] The CDU 100 includes a display 120. In one aspect, the display 120 provides a user interface to allow the entire crew to use various functions, including the repair information function. The CDU 100 also includes a number of UI inputs. For example, the CDU 100 includes 6 buttons 110A-F on the left side and 6 buttons 112A-F on the right side. These buttons can be used to control various functions of the CDU, including the repair information function. The CDU also includes a plurality of additional inputs, such as a plurality of buttons 130. Buttons 110A-F, 112A-F, and 130 are merely examples. The CDU 100 may include any suitable user interface, including touch-sensitive inputs (e.g., touch screens), voice-activated inputs, and any number or type of buttons.

[0021] Figure 1B An exemplary radial fix intercept for an FMS according to one aspect is depicted. In one aspect, a fix information function of a CDU can be used to determine a plurality of values. For example, a radial entry of the fix information function can be used to determine an intersection (e.g., a first intersection) between a custom fix and an active flight plan in the direction of a supplied radial (e.g., a supplied radial line). The CDU can display data points for the radial entry, while a navigation display graphically depicts the intersection (e.g., along with other suitable information). For example, the CDU can display an ETA, a distance to travel, or a predicted altitude. These are merely examples, and the CDU can display any suitable data points.

[0022] On the one hand, Figure 1B This radial entry example is depicted. CDU display 160 (e.g., Figure 1A The display 120 shown in the figure displays digital data points of radial intersections. The navigation display 170 visually displays the intersections. The entire crew of the aircraft can use this information together to determine the location of the intersection and control the aircraft. In an embodiment, the navigation display 170 can display active or pending tracks, fixes, airports, terrain, weather, or any other suitable content. For example, as shown, the navigation display 170 shows a map with the current aircraft heading pointing vertically upward (e.g., from the triangle at the bottom). The display shows the heading (e.g., an outer circle with numbers from 00 to 36 or 0 degrees to 360 degrees). The display also shows a circle: equal distances from the aircraft position. In an embodiment, the map can be zoomed in or out, and the pilot can skip the fixed points of the track so that these fixed points are the center point instead of the aircraft position (e.g., to see what will appear later). At the top right, the navigation display 170 shows the first upcoming fix or waypoint with ETA and travel distance.

[0023] Radial entries are merely examples of features that may be used with the fix information function. In one aspect, the fix information function may also determine distance entries from a custom fix. For example, the fix information function may determine the first intersection between a custom fix and the active flight plan at a supplied distance (e.g., a circle reflecting the supplied distance). The fix information function may also determine radial distance entries from a custom fix. For example, the fix information function may calculate the distance traveled from the current aircraft position to a position defined by an input radial and the distance to the custom fix. The fix information function may also determine ABEAM entries from a custom fix. For example, the fix information function may determine the first intersection between the active flight plan and a vertical line from a custom fix.

[0024] In addition to these features, the fix information function can be improved by adding additional features. In one aspect, the fix information function also includes an altitude entry feature. For example, the fix information function can calculate the distance traveled from the current aircraft position to a first position at which the predicted vertical trajectory is estimated to be the next time it arrives at a supplied altitude. In addition, the fix information function can include an ETA entry feature. For example, the fix information function can calculate the distance traveled from the aircraft position to a position at which the predicted trajectory is estimated to be at a supplied ETA. Figure 3-Figure 5 These altitude and ETA fix information features are discussed further below.

[0025] Additionally, in one aspect, the fix information function can provide a latitude and longitude for a calculated intersection point (e.g., for an altitude or ETA entry feature). The aircraft crew can use the latitude and longitude in flight planning to improve aircraft navigation. For example, the latitude and longitude can be used for required arrival time operations, adding holding patterns, specifying planning steps on a particular fix, or for any other suitable purpose.

[0026] Figure 2 FIG. 2 shows a controller 200 for altitude and time repair of an FMS according to one aspect. In one aspect, the controller 200 is used with Figure 1A The FMS shown is used with the CDU 100. The controller 200 includes a processor 202, a memory 210, and a network component 220. The memory 210 can take the form of any non-transitory computer-readable medium. The processor 202 generally retrieves and executes programming instructions stored in the memory 210. The processor 202 represents a single central processing unit (CPU), multiple CPUs, a single CPU with multiple processing cores, a graphics processing unit (GPU) with multiple execution paths, etc.

[0027] The network component 220 includes components required for the controller 200 to interface with a suitable communication network. For example, the network component 220 may include a wired, WiFi, or cellular network interface component and associated software to interface with a communication network maintained by the aircraft, or include devices external to the aircraft. Although the memory 210 is shown as a single entity, the memory 210 may include one or more memory devices having blocks of memory associated with physical addresses, such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, or other types of volatile and / or non-volatile memory.

[0028] Memory 210 generally includes program code for performing various functions associated with use of controller 200. The program code is generally described as various functional "applications" or "modules" within memory 210, although alternative implementations may have different functions and / or combinations of functions.

[0029] UI service 212 facilitates the generation of a user interface (UI) for the FMS. For example, the UI service may generate Figure 1A The UI of the CDU display 160 and the navigation display 170 are shown. The target insertion service 214 facilitates the insertion of a target intercept point of a fix information function (e.g., the altitude and time characteristics of the fix information function). This is referred to below Figure 3-Figure 5 Further discussion. Flight management services 216 facilitate managing aircraft flights (eg, based on input from a repair information function).

[0030] Figure 3 FIG. 3 is a flow chart 300 illustrating updating a flight plan using altitude and time fixes for an FMS according to one aspect. At block 302, a UI service (e.g., Figure 2 The UI service 212 shown in the figure) generates a repair information UI. For example, the UI service can generate a repair information UI for a CDU display (e.g., Figure 1B 160 ).

[0031] At block 304, the target insertion service (e.g., Figure 2 The target insertion service 214 shown in FIG. 214 inserts a target point. For example, a user (e.g., an aircraft crew member) can enter a target altitude value into the CDU. This is described below with reference to FIG. Fig. 6A Further discussion. The target insertion service may calculate the position of the aircraft at the point at which the aircraft is expected to reach the target altitude. As another example, a user may input a target time value (e.g., ETA) into the CDU. The target insertion service may calculate a target point at which the aircraft is estimated to be at the target ETA (e.g., the position of the aircraft at the target ETA). Figure 4 and Figure 5 Discuss these further.

[0032] At block 306, the target insertion service and the UI service update the UI with the target point. For example, the UI service may receive the inserted target point (eg, from the target insertion service) and may update the navigation display UI (eg, Figure 1B The navigation display 170 shown) is used to reflect the target point. This is merely an example, and any suitable service may be used, and any suitable technique (e.g., updating any suitable UI, providing an audio or tactile alert, or any other suitable technique) may be used to reflect the target point.

[0033] At block 308, the UI service provides the target coordinates. As discussed above with respect to block 304, the target insertion service calculates the target point where the aircraft will reach the desired altitude or ETA. In one aspect, the UI service may provide the coordinates (e.g., latitude and longitude) of the location to the user. For example, the user may request the coordinates using the CDU (e.g., by pressing Figure 1A The UI service may receive the coordinates of the target point and provide those coordinates to the user. This is described below with reference to Figure 6B Further discussion.

[0034] This is merely an example, and any suitable technique may be used to provide the target coordinates. For example, the UI service may automatically provide the target coordinates (e.g., without user request), or any other suitable technique may be used. In addition, the target insertion service may record the target coordinates in a suitable storage repository (e.g., a scratchpad memory of the CDU). The crew or FMS may then use the recorded coordinates of the aircraft's flight plan, as discussed further below with respect to block 310.

[0035] At block 310, a flight management service (e.g., Figure 2 The flight management service 216 (shown) adds the coordinates to the flight plan. For example, at block 308, the target insertion service can record the coordinates in a CDU scratchpad or another suitable storage repository. In one aspect, the flight management service can add the coordinates (e.g., latitude and longitude) and execute the desired route to the coordinates. Alternatively or additionally, the crew can add the coordinates to the flight plan. For example, the crew can pass the coordinate values ​​from the CDU scratchpad into the flight plan.

[0036] At block 312, the flight management service executes the updated flight plan. For example, the crew may enter a constraint using the target coordinates, start a required time of arrival operation using the coordinates, enter a hold using the coordinates, enter a plan step using the coordinates, or take any other suitable action. The flight management service updates the flight plan with the changes and executes the updated flight plan. For example, the crew may use the updated flight plan to control the aircraft along the desired route.

[0037] Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating determining a highly repaired intersection according to one aspect. In one aspect, Figure 4 Corresponds to Figure 3 An example of block 304 is shown. At block 402, a target insertion service (e.g., Figure 2 The target insertion service 214 shown receives an altitude target. For example, the crew can enter the altitude target into the CDU. Fig. 6A This is explained.

[0038] At block 404, the target insertion service inserts the position of the aircraft at the altitude target. In one aspect, the target insertion service calculates the distance the aircraft has to travel from the current position of the aircraft to reach the target altitude. For example, the target insertion service can use the current vertical track and position of the aircraft to insert the point at which the aircraft will reach the target altitude.

[0039] The target insertion service can then calculate the coordinates of this point and can provide these coordinates to the flight crew or to a flight management service (e.g., as described above with respect to Figure 3 The target insertion service may also calculate the distance to that point and may update the navigation display to reflect that travel distance (e.g., as discussed above with respect to block 308). Figure 3 In embodiments, the target insertion service may calculate the distance directly (eg, along a straight line) or along a trajectory.

[0040] Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating determining a crossover point for time repair according to one aspect. In one aspect, Figure 5 Corresponds to Figure 3 Another example of block 304 is shown. For example, the FMS may implement the Figure 4 The discussed repair information function is highly characteristic and as Figure 5 Alternatively, the FMS may implement either the height characteristic of the repair information function or the time characteristic of the repair information function, but not both the height characteristic of the repair information function and the time characteristic of the repair information function.

[0041] At block 502, a target insertion service (e.g., Figure 2 The target insertion service 214 shown receives the time target. For example, the crew can enter the ETA target into the CDU. This is merely an example, and any suitable time target can be used.

[0042] At block 504, the target insertion service inserts the position of the aircraft at the time target. In one aspect, the target insertion service calculates the distance the aircraft will travel from the current position of the aircraft to reach the target time. For example, the target insertion service may use the current vertical track and position of the aircraft and may calculate a predicted position of the aircraft at the desired time.

[0043] The target insertion service can then calculate the coordinates of this point and can provide these coordinates to the flight crew or to a flight management service (e.g., as described above with respect to Figure 3 The target insertion service may also calculate the distance to that point and may update the navigation display to reflect that travel distance (e.g., as discussed above with respect to block 308). Figure 3 (as discussed in block 306 shown).

[0044] Fig. 6A An exemplary altitude fix for an FMS is shown according to one aspect. In one aspect, an aircraft FMS includes a CDU display 610 and a navigation display 620. The CDU display 610 displays a fix information function, as shown. The CDU display 610 allows for input of a target altitude 612. For example, a flight crew member may press button 602 and may enter a target altitude fix (e.g., 10,000 feet as shown). As described above with respect to Figure 3-Figure 4 As discussed, the FMS may then interpolate the aircraft position at a target altitude fix (e.g., based on the aircraft current position and trajectory). The altitude fix is ​​merely one example, and the CDU display 610 may instead (or in addition) allow for input of a target time fix, as discussed above with respect to Figure 3 and Figure 5 discussed.

[0045] Figure 6B 6 shows latitude and longitude for an altitude fix for an FMS according to one aspect. As described above, the crew may enter a target altitude 612 for the CDU display 610. The crew may then request coordinates for the insertion point. For example, the crew may press a button to display coordinates 614 (e.g., latitude and longitude). In one aspect, coordinates 614 represent the inserted aircraft position at the target altitude fix. The coordinates may then be used to update the flight plan (e.g., as described above with respect to Figure 3 As discussed above, the altitude fix is ​​merely one example, and the CDU display 610 may instead (or in addition) provide time-fixed coordinates, as discussed above with respect to blocks 310 and 312. Figure 3 and Figure 5 discussed.

[0046] In the present disclosure, reference is made to various aspects. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the various aspects specifically described. On the contrary, any combination of the following features and elements (whether or not related to different aspects) is expected to implement and realize the teachings provided herein. In addition, when describing the elements of various aspects in the form of "at least one of A and B", it will be understood that the various aspects including element A exclusively, element B exclusively, and elements A and B are considered separately. In addition, although some aspects can achieve advantages that are superior to other possible solutions and / or superior to the prior art, whether a specific advantage is achieved by a given aspect does not limit the present disclosure. Therefore, the aspects, features, aspects and advantages disclosed herein are merely illustrative and are not considered to be elements or limitations of the appended claims unless explicitly stated in one or more claims. Similarly, reference to "the present invention" should not be interpreted as a summary of any inventive subject matter disclosed herein, and should not be considered to be elements or limitations of the appended claims unless explicitly stated in one or more claims.

[0047] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the various aspects described herein may be embodied as systems, methods, or computer program products. Thus, the various aspects may take the form of entirely hardware aspects, entirely software aspects (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.), or combined software and hardware aspects that may all be collectively referred to herein as "circuits," "modules," or "systems." Furthermore, the various aspects described herein may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer-readable storage media having computer-readable program code embodied thereon.

[0048] The program code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0049] Computer program code for performing operations of various aspects of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages ​​such as Java, Smalltalk, C++, and conventional procedural programming languages ​​such as the "C" programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may be executed entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partially on the user's computer, partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer or server. In the latter case, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer via any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or may be connected to an external computer (e.g., via the Internet using an Internet service provider).

[0050] Various aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to various aspects of the present disclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustration and / or block diagram, as well as the combination of blocks in the flowchart illustration and / or block diagram, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer or other programmable data processing device to produce a machine such that these instructions, when executed by a processor of a computer or other programmable data processing device, produce a means (means) for implementing the functions / actions specified in one or more blocks in the flowchart illustration and / or block diagram.

[0051] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium, which may cause a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to operate in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce a product including instructions for implementing the functions / actions specified in one or more boxes in the flowchart illustration and / or block diagram.

[0052] Computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device so that a series of operational steps are performed on the computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to produce a computer-implemented process, so that the instructions executed on the computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device provide a process for implementing the functions / actions specified in one or more boxes in the flowchart illustration and / or block diagram.

[0053] The flowchart illustration and block diagram in the accompanying drawings show the architecture, function and operation of the possible implementation of the system, method and computer program product according to various aspects of the present disclosure. To this end, each frame in the flowchart illustration or block diagram can represent a part of a module, program segment or code, and the part of this module, program segment or code includes one or more executable instructions for realizing the specified logical function. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the function indicated in the frame may not occur in the order indicated in the figure. For example, depending on the function involved, the two frames shown in succession can actually be performed substantially at the same time, or these frames can sometimes be performed in reverse order or out of order. It should also be noted that each frame in the block diagram and / or the flowchart illustration, and the combination of the frames in the block diagram and / or the flowchart illustration, can be realized with a special hardware-based system or a combination of special hardware and computer instructions that perform the specified function or action.

[0054] While the foregoing is directed to various aspects of the present disclosure, other and further aspects of the disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof and the scope of the disclosure is determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of generating a time and altitude based fix for a flight management system, comprising: receiving a target value at the flight management system of the aircraft, the target value comprising at least one of (i) an altitude target value and (ii) a time target value; determining a target aircraft position associated with the target value based on the trajectory of the aircraft; Calculating the distance traveled by the aircraft from the current aircraft position to the target aircraft position; displaying the calculated distance in a user interface of the aircraft; as well as The coordinates of the target aircraft position are provided to the flight management system for use in flight management of the aircraft.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The target values ​​include the altitude target value, and wherein the target aircraft position includes an estimated position of the aircraft at which it will next reach the altitude target value.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: receiving, at the flight management system of the aircraft, a second target value including the time target value; determining a second target aircraft position associated with the second target value based on a second trajectory of the aircraft; calculating a second distance traveled by the aircraft from the updated current aircraft position to the second target aircraft position; displaying the calculated second distance in the user interface of the aircraft; as well as Second coordinates of the second target aircraft position are provided to the flight management system for use in flight management of the aircraft.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The target value comprises the time target value, and wherein the target aircraft position comprises an estimated position of the aircraft at the time target value.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: The trajectory includes a vertical trajectory of the aircraft.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein: Providing the coordinates of the target aircraft position to the flight management system includes: displaying the target coordinates in a command display unit of the aircraft; and The target coordinates are stored in an electronic repository associated with the command display unit.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: The coordinates are provided in response to user input to the command display unit.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: A flight plan for the aircraft is modified based on the coordinates.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: The aircraft is navigated based on the modified flight plan.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium containing computer program code, which when executed by operation of one or more computer processors, performs operations comprising: receiving a target value at a flight management system of the aircraft, the target value comprising at least one of (i) an altitude target value and (ii) a time target value; determining a target aircraft position associated with the target value based on the trajectory of the aircraft; Calculating the distance traveled by the aircraft from the current aircraft position to the target aircraft position; displaying the calculated distance in a user interface of the aircraft; as well as The coordinates of the target aircraft position are provided to the flight management system for use in flight management of the aircraft.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein: The target values ​​include the altitude target value, and wherein the target aircraft position includes an estimated position of the aircraft at which it will next reach the altitude target value.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, the operations further comprising: receiving, at the flight management system of the aircraft, a second target value including the time target value; determining a second target aircraft position associated with the second target value based on a second trajectory of the aircraft; calculating a second distance traveled by the aircraft from the updated current aircraft position to the second target aircraft position; displaying the calculated second distance in the user interface of the aircraft; as well as Second coordinates of the second target aircraft position are provided to the flight management system for use in flight management of the aircraft.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein: The target value comprises the time target value, and wherein the target aircraft position comprises an estimated position of the aircraft at the time target value.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein: Providing the coordinates of the target aircraft position to the flight management system includes: Target coordinates are displayed in a command display unit of the aircraft, wherein the coordinates are provided in response to user input to the command display unit.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, the operations further comprising: modifying a flight plan of the aircraft based on the coordinates; as well as The aircraft is navigated based on the modified flight plan.

16. A system for generating a time and altitude based fix for a flight management system, comprising: Computer processors; as well as A memory having instructions stored thereon, which when executed on the computer processor, perform operations, the operations comprising: receiving a target value at the flight management system of the aircraft, the target value comprising at least one of (i) an altitude target value and (ii) a time target value; determining a target aircraft position associated with the target value based on the trajectory of the aircraft; Calculating the distance traveled by the aircraft from the current aircraft position to the target aircraft position; displaying the calculated distance in a user interface of the aircraft; and The coordinates of the target aircraft position are provided to the flight management system for use in flight management of the aircraft.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein: The target values ​​include the altitude target value, and wherein the target aircraft position includes an estimated position of the aircraft at which it will next reach the altitude target value.

18. The system of claim 17, the operations further comprising: receiving, at the flight management system of the aircraft, a second target value including the time target value; determining a second target aircraft position associated with the second target value based on a second trajectory of the aircraft; calculating a second distance traveled by the aircraft from the updated current aircraft position to the second target aircraft position; displaying the calculated second distance in the user interface of the aircraft; as well as Second coordinates of the second target aircraft position are provided to the flight management system for use in flight management of the aircraft.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein: The target value comprises the time target value, and wherein the target aircraft position comprises an estimated position of the aircraft at the time target value.

20. The system of claim 16, the operations further comprising: modifying a flight plan of the aircraft based on the coordinates; as well as The aircraft is navigated based on the modified flight plan.

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