Aircraft Interval Management Using FMS for Fixed Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air traffic management systems lack efficient methods for maintaining fixed separation between aircraft, especially in complex scenarios involving non-coincident and non-equidistant flight paths, which can lead to inefficiencies and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing Advanced Interval Management (AIM) functions in the Flight Management System (FMS) of following aircraft to achieve and maintain a predetermined separation with a target aircraft using FMS functions such as RTA, Fix, Track Angle, Abeam, and Distance-To-Go, eliminating the need for a separate interval management computer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a separate interval management computer is used to maintain fixed separation between aircraft, then separation precision is improved, but device complexity and implementation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the interval management function with the existing Flight Management System (FMS) by integrating an interval management module into the FMS controller. This merging eliminates the need for a separate interval management computer while maintaining separation precision through coordinated processing of position data, target aircraft information, and separation calculations within the unified FMS architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The FMS controller is designed to perform multiple functions including both traditional flight management tasks and the additional interval management function. The controller uses its existing computational resources, communication links, and data processing capabilities to handle separation maintenance, making the system universal and eliminating redundant dedicated hardware.
2Productivity
If traditional air traffic management methods are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but separation maintenance efficiency and safety deteriorate in complex flight scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The interval management module enables the aircraft to automatically maintain separation from target aircraft through self-service automation. The system continuously receives position information, calculates required separation, determines appropriate speed adjustments, and executes control commands without requiring external air traffic control intervention for each separation maintenance action, thereby improving efficiency while keeping the system architecture relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculations and preparations for separation maintenance by pre-determining speed adjustments and control commands based on predicted future positions and separation requirements. This allows the aircraft to proactively maintain separation rather than reactively responding to violations, improving efficiency without requiring complex real-time intervention systems.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An aircraft (10) and method (200) for controlling a following aircraft (10) in reference to a target aircraft (114) including receiving (202), in a flight management system (8) of the following aircraft (10), information related to the target aircraft (114), setting a required time of arrival at an achieve-by-point (110) abeam of the target aircraft target reference point (106), and after the achieve-by-point is reached, flying the following aircraft to maintain a fixed separation until a defined termination point has been reached (208).