Patent ID: 7554483
Filing Date: 2009-06-30
Classification: G05D

Abstract:
1. A method of aiding the piloting of an aircraft, which is intended to aid the piloting of the aircraft during an autonomous approach to a landing runway for the Purpose of landing, said aircraft comprising at least one locating unit, wherein: a) an estimated instant of arrival of the aircraft on the runway is determined; b) a prediction of the performance of said locating unit of the aircraft at least at the instant of arrival is determined; and c) on the basis of said performance of the locating unit and of characteristics of said approach, at least one minimum decision height corresponding to the instant of arrival is determined, above which the aircraft is protected from the risks of collision with the ground when it is guided automatically onto an approach axis corresponding to said approach, wherein: in step a), a plurality of instants lying in a time interval surrounding said instant of arrival of the aircraft on the runway is determined; in step b), a performance of said locating unit of the aircraft at each of said instants determined in step a) is determined; and in step c), a minimum decision height at each of said instants is determined on the basis of said performance of said locating unit of the aircraft at each instant considered and of said characteristics of the approach.