Pseudo Glide Path Landing for Shorter Runway Occupancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Increased congestion at airport runways due to rising flight numbers leads to delays, and attempts to reduce these delays by shortening landing intervals can increase the risk of collision or damage from wake turbulence.
Innovation Solution
A system that calculates a pseudo approach glide path profile, allowing aircraft to land safely and efficiently by determining a pseudo displaced threshold, which takes into account the characteristics of preceding aircraft and exit paths, thereby reducing runway occupation time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the time between landings is decreased to alleviate runway congestion, then runway productivity is improved, but the risk of collision and damage from wake turbulence increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of the pseudo displaced threshold and pseudo approach glide path profile before the aircraft begins its approach. By pre-computing the optimal landing parameters based on preceding aircraft characteristics and exit path information, the system enables pilots to plan their approach in advance, allowing for safer reduced spacing between landings while maintaining collision avoidance margins.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the pseudo displaced threshold and approach glide path based on real-time conditions including the characteristics of the preceding aircraft, wind conditions, and available exit paths. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize runway spacing for each specific landing scenario, improving productivity while maintaining safety margins appropriate to current conditions.
2Reliability
If aircraft use the full runway length for landing, then safety margin is improved, but runway occupation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a virtual copy of the displaced threshold concept, called the 'pseudo displaced threshold,' which is not a physical marking but a calculated reference point. This virtual threshold allows aircraft to aim for a point beyond the physical threshold, enabling shorter runway occupation while maintaining safety through precise glide path control and accurate positioning information provided to the pilot.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of threshold location from a fixed physical marking to a variable calculated position (pseudo displaced threshold) that adapts to different landing scenarios. By adjusting this parameter based on preceding aircraft wake turbulence characteristics, wind conditions, and exit path availability, the system optimizes the balance between safety margin and runway occupation time for each specific situation.
Data Source
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Figure 1B
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AI summary
A system and method to assist piloting an aircraft in landing phase is disclosed. The system includes a pseudo glide path calculation module (202) that includes a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the one processor and having instructions stored upon. The instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the one or more processors (208) to receive coordinates for a runway (302), receive exit path coordinates for a runway (304), receive aircraft configuration data (306), receive aircraft status data (308), receive runway environmental data (310), calculate a relative position of the aircraft in reference to the exit path coordinates and the runway environmental data (314), generate a pseudo displaced threshold for the runway, and generate a pseudo approach glide path profile based on the pseudo displaced threshold (316). The pseudo displaced threshold and the pseudo approach glide path profile may be depicted on a display. A runway occupation time may also be calculated.