Aircraft Flight Path Variation for Community Noise Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RNP flight path procedures concentrate noise over communities and limit air traffic controllers' ability to manage aircraft spacing and timing, leading to noise issues and increased risk of loss of separation between aircraft.
Innovation Solution
A system that calculates and implements flight path modifications to maintain RNP procedure containment boundaries while reducing noise impact on communities and managing aircraft spacing and timing, using real-time noise data and air traffic information to dynamically adjust flight paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fixed, consistent flight paths are used for RNP procedures, then aircraft navigation precision and repeatability are improved, but noise concentration over underlying communities increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic flight path adjustment by allowing aircraft to deviate from fixed RNP centerlines within defined containment boundaries. The system continuously modifies flight paths based on real-time conditions, transforming the static nature of traditional RNP procedures into a dynamic system that can respond to noise concerns while maintaining navigation integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of flight path position by introducing lateral offsets from the RNP centerline. These offsets are calculated to keep aircraft within containment boundaries while distributing noise over different areas. The parameter modification is quantitative and controlled, adjusting the horizontal position parameter to achieve noise dispersion
2Productivity
If fixed flight paths are used, then operational efficiency is improved, but air traffic controllers lose ability to fine-tune aircraft longitudinal spacing
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamic spacing adjustment by allowing variable longitudinal distances between aircraft along the flight path. Controllers can modify spacing parameters in real-time based on traffic conditions, aircraft performance, and separation requirements, while the system automatically adjusts flight paths to maintain both spacing and containment boundary compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary calculation of modified flight paths that pre-establish appropriate longitudinal spacing between aircraft. By computing offset paths in advance that account for spacing requirements, the system prepares adaptive spacing solutions before aircraft arrive, enabling efficient flow management while maintaining safety margins
3Reliability
If highly repeatable path-keeping traffic is used, then navigation reliability is improved, but risk of loss of separation between aircraft increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts flight paths to maintain safe separation between aircraft by introducing controlled variability in longitudinal positioning. The dynamic modification allows real-time response to spacing conditions, preventing convergence of aircraft paths while maintaining navigation reliability through continuous containment boundary compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The system acts as an intermediary between fixed RNP procedures and aircraft spacing requirements by introducing offset paths as a mediating element. These offset paths serve as intermediate trajectories that maintain separation between aircraft while preserving the integrity of underlying RNP containment boundaries, effectively decoupling the conflict between repeatability and separation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An example method for flight path variation of an aircraft for noise management includes receiving noise inquiries of a community related to aircraft noise during flight over the community, receiving an output from noise sensors positioned within the community, determining a noise distribution plan for additional aircraft flying over the community so as to steer the additional aircraft and distribute additional aircraft noise in response to the noise inquiries and the output from the noise sensors, and based on flight path data of the additional aircraft and the noise distribution plan, assigning a flight path modification to aircraft via a data communication link. The flight path modification informs the aircraft to adjust the flight path to remain within associated margins of a required navigation performance (RNP) instrument flight procedure and to reduce noise impact to the community underneath the flight path.