Patent ID: 7330781
Filing Date: 2008-02-12
Classification: G01C,G05D

Abstract:
1. A method of determining, and guiding an aircraft over, an intermediate trajectory between a first flight trajectory, for low-altitude flight, and a second flight trajectory, which starts at an initial point and from which a tactical landing is carried out, the method comprising: receiving, by a processor, information of the aircraft's first flight trajectory and the initial point of the second flight trajectory; determining, with the processor, a point of transition from the first flight trajectory to the intermediate trajectory where the aircraft must depart from the first flight trajectory so as to reach the initial point of the second flight trajectory under predetermined flight conditions; and automatically guiding, with an automatic guidance system, the aircraft along the intermediate trajectory defined by the endpoints of the point of transition and the initial point of the second flight trajectory, wherein: the slopes of the first and second straight lines are determined in accordance with the predetermined flight conditions, and the intermediate trajectory corresponds to a straight line segment connecting the point of transition and the initial point of the second flight trajectory.