Aircraft Approach Path Stabilization via Iterative Recalculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircrafts often deviate from planned approach paths due to air traffic control instructions, weather conditions, or poor performance modeling, leading to increased workload and stress for crews during the critical descent and approach phase, as they need to find new modified paths to ensure stabilization for safe landing.
Innovation Solution
A method for assisting aircraft approach by calculating a reference path linking the current position to the landing zone, including a lateral and vertical profile, with iterative modification steps and stabilization tests to ensure the path can support landing, and transmitting this path to pilots and air traffic management systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the aircraft follows the initial flight plan approach path, then the landing procedure is straightforward, but deviations occur due to air traffic control instructions, weather conditions, or performance modeling errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of the approach path and stabilization altitude before the actual landing operation. It pre-determines the vertical profile, speed profile, and configuration setup points, allowing the crew to focus on execution rather than planning during the critical landing phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the aircraft's actual position and compares it with the calculated approach path. When deviations are detected, the system automatically recalculates the path and provides feedback to the crew, reducing their workload by handling the complex recalibration process autonomously.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the aircraft deviates from the planned approach path, then flexibility is achieved to respond to changing conditions, but the crew must search for new modified paths increasing workload and stress
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts the approach path based on real-time conditions. When deviations occur, the system automatically generates new modified paths by adjusting the vertical profile and speed profile, providing the crew with flexible responses to changing conditions without manual recalculation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically recalculating the approach path when deviations are detected. Instead of requiring the crew to manually search for new paths, the system autonomously generates corrected paths and presents them for approval, significantly reducing crew workload during adaptive situations.
3Duration of action of moving object
If the stabilization altitude is reached late, then the aircraft has more time to adjust, but the landing cannot be stabilized before the final approach fix
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates the required stabilization altitude and timing in advance, before the aircraft reaches the critical final approach fix. By pre-determining when stabilization must be achieved, the system ensures that sufficient adjustment time is built into the approach profile, preventing last-minute crises.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the aircraft's progress toward the stabilization altitude and provides real-time feedback. When the aircraft is approaching the final approach fix, the system verifies that stabilization has been achieved and alerts the crew if not, ensuring reliability is maintained while optimizing adjustment time utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
An approach assistance method includes: an initial calculation step for calculating a reference path and the application of a stabilization test for determining whether the reference path makes the landing possible; modification steps implemented in a sequence and applying predefined modification rules and applying the stabilization test after each modification; and a transmitting step including transmitting the reference path to the human pilot, to an autopilot and/or to a traffic management system as soon as the reference path passes the stabilization test.