Flight Plan Selection During Aircraft Approach

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current flight management systems (FMS) require manual selection of procedures during the approach phase, increasing operator workload and safety risks, especially when changes in procedures are needed due to factors like runway changes or go-arounds.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that automates the activation of a secondary flight plan during the approach phase, allowing for automatic selection between the initial and secondary flight plans based on operator instructions and flight conditions, thereby reducing operator workload and enhancing safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual selection of procedures is implemented in FMS, then operator control and flexibility are maintained, but operator workload increases and safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator workloadVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-loads a secondary flight plan with an alternative approach procedure before the approach phase begins. This preliminary preparation allows the system to automatically switch to a safe trajectory without requiring manual operator input during the critical approach phase, thereby reducing workload while maintaining safety through advance preparation of backup options.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The FMS automatically monitors flight conditions and autonomously selects between the initial and secondary flight plans based on real-time parameters such as go-around detection and approach phase status. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual operator intervention in procedure selection, reducing workload while ensuring consistent and safe automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Extent of automation

If automated flight plan selection is implemented, then operator workload is reduced and safety is enhanced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic flight plan selectionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flight management system is divided into distinct functional modules: an initial flight plan module, a secondary flight plan module, and an automatic selection module. Each module handles specific tasks independently, with clear interfaces between them. This segmentation manages system complexity by organizing functions into manageable, independent units while enabling sophisticated automated flight plan selection capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12315379B2Automatic selection of an aircraft flight plan in the approach phase

Publication Date: 2025.05.27 THALES SA

AI summary

In the field of air navigation, a computer-implemented method includes loading an initial active flight plan for an aircraft comprising a first approach procedure to a runway up to a missed approach point ending between the missed approach point and a final point; loading a secondary flight plan comprising an approach procedure to the runway between the missed approach point and the runway, and a second missed approach procedure at the end of the approach, and ending at a second final point; receiving an instruction from an operator of the aircraft to link the initial active flight plan and the secondary flight plan; in the event of a go-around by the operator at the latest at the missed approach point, activating the missed approach procedure; otherwise, automatically selecting the secondary flight plan as active flight plan and activating the second approach.