Patent ID: 8224505
Filing Date: 2012-07-17
Classification: G05D

Abstract:
1. A method for determining a target altitude and for controlling an emergency descent of an aircraft, the target altitude representing the altitude to be reached by the aircraft at the end of the emergency descent, the method comprising: automatically and repeatedly performing the following operations upon activation of the emergency descent, and with respect to a reference horizontal distance located ahead of the aircraft relative to an initial position thereof when the emergency descent is activated, the reference horizontal distance corresponding to at least a maximum horizontal distance that the aircraft is able to follow upon an emergency descent from the highest cruise flight level for the aircraft: implementing the emergency descent using at least one of the target altitudes selected as a result of performance of operations (a) through (d), wherein the automatic and repeated performance of operations (a) through (d) causes the target altitude to be updated in real time and allows the aircraft to be brought as low as possible while still protecting the aircraft from the relief, but at the same time allows for avoiding being hindered by a localized height of the relief that has already been flown over by the aircraft, wherein implementing the emergency descent further comprises: wherein the aircraft travels along an initial flight itinerary before initiating the emergency descent, and wherein the reference horizontal distance is set along the initial flight itinerary such that the aircraft continues to travel along the initial flight itinerary while determining the target altitude and while conducting the emergency descent.