Aircraft Approach Energy Trajectory Under Variable Wind
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft landing procedures face challenges in stabilizing energy during approach due to varying meteorological conditions, particularly wind, leading to potential go-arounds and increased risk of incidents or accidents.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determine an optimal flight trajectory by processing current flight and meteorological data to minimize ground distance, using iterative computations to define positions for energy dissipation actions, thereby providing pilots with a real-time awareness of energy states and reducing non-stabilized approaches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed flight trajectory is constructed using fixed hypotheses and parameter values, then the trajectory construction is simple, but the trajectory is not necessarily the optimal limit trajectory because it does not account for varying meteorological conditions such as wind
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, fixed parameter trajectory construction into a dynamic system that continuously adapts to varying meteorological conditions. The method uses real-time wind data and iterative computation to generate an optimal limit trajectory that reflects current atmospheric conditions, making the trajectory adaptive rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the computed optimal limit trajectory is compared with the aircraft's actual flight trajectory. This feedback loop allows the system to identify deviations and provide guidance to pilots for correction, ensuring the aircraft remains within the optimal energy management envelope while adapting to changing conditions.
2Reliability
If pilots manually control the aircraft to reduce excess energy using primary and secondary control elements, then the crew can respond to energy conditions, but the approach becomes one of the most stressful flight phases requiring extensive pilot experience and skills
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the aircraft's flight management system to perform self-service by automatically computing the optimal limit trajectory and providing real-time guidance to pilots. This reduces the mental burden on pilots during the approach phase, as the system handles the complex energy management calculations and presents clear guidance, allowing pilots to focus on executing predetermined actions rather than performing stressful manual energy management.
3Reliability
If the aircraft is required to be in a stabilized state at a predetermined height during approach, then the landing safety is improved, but the ground distance required to stabilize the aircraft may be insufficient under certain energy conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by computing the optimal limit trajectory in advance, taking into account the aircraft's current energy state and meteorological conditions. This pre-computed trajectory provides pilots with advance guidance on the minimum ground distance required to stabilize the aircraft, allowing them to plan and execute stabilization actions proactively rather than reactively, ensuring sufficient distance is available before reaching the predetermined stabilization height.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a reception unit to receive current flight data of the aircraft and current meteorological data, a data processing unit to perform an iterative computation to determine, as a function at least of a set of predetermined rules, of a set of constraints and of current values including current meteorological data, an optimal flight trajectory making it possible to generate a dissipation of the energy of the aircraft to bring it, at a stabilized final position, into a final energy state with a minimum ground distance, the optimal flight trajectory defining positions at which actions must be implemented on the aircraft, and a data transmission unit to transmit at least the minimum distance to at least one user system.