Aircraft Vertical Path Segmentation for Altitude Constraint Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flight management systems do not provide pilots with comprehensive visibility of the aircraft's vertical path, especially during deviations from the reference profile, making it difficult to anticipate altitude constraints and manage the aircraft effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines a vertical path of an aircraft by breaking it into segments using different guiding modes, including an initial segment and subsequent segments with separate or plateau guiding modes, and displays the path along with altitude constraint statuses and errors, allowing pilots to better anticipate and manage altitude constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If flight management systems use automatic guiding mode to determine vertical path, then the aircraft can be guided automatically following a reference profile, but the pilot does not have overall visibility of the vertical path especially during deviations from the reference profile
Solution Approach 1:
The vertical path is divided into multiple segments: an initial segment determined with the initial vertical guiding mode from the current position to a selection point, and N following segments determined with following vertical guiding modes between consecutive selection points or between a selection point and the final destination. This segmentation allows the system to maintain automation while providing comprehensive visibility of the entire vertical path including deviations from the reference profile.
2Productivity
If flight management systems determine vertical path based on current guiding mode and piloting instruction, then the path can be determined to the point where piloting instruction is reached, but the pilot cannot anticipate possible situations during vertical guiding including the presence of altitude constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines the complete vertical path in advance from the current position to the final destination, including all segments and altitude constraints, before the pilot needs to make decisions. The status of each altitude constraint along the entire vertical path is determined and displayed to the operator, enabling the pilot to anticipate situations and plan accordingly rather than reacting to information as it becomes available during flight.
3Length of moving object
If flight management systems extend vertical path by a plateau path after piloting instruction, then the path can be extended to the final destination, but the overall visibility of the vertical path is still not provided to the pilot
Solution Approach 1:
The status of each altitude constraint along the entire vertical path is determined and displayed to the operator. This feedback mechanism provides the pilot with comprehensive information about the vertical path including all segments, altitude constraints, and their statuses, enabling full awareness and anticipation of situations throughout the entire flight path from current position to final destination.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of determining a vertical path of an aircraft from its current position, an associated computer program product and a determining system are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes determining a vertical path of the aircraft including determining an initial path segment and N following path segments, composing the vertical path of the aircraft from the determined path segments and freezing this vertical path. The method further includes determining a status of each of the altitude constraints along the entire vertical path of the aircraft, each status being chosen between an achievable status when the corresponding altitude constraint is satisfied and a missed status otherwise, and displaying the vertical path of the aircraft and statuses of the determined altitude constraints to the operator.