Patent ID: 8155866
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: G05D,G08G

Abstract:
1. A method for guiding an aircraft, comprising: flying the aircraft along a flight trajectory having at least one constrained section, and flying at a required speed within the constrained section to comply with a required arrival time at a predetermined waypoint in said constrained section according to the additional steps of: A/ determining speed setpoints by a flight management system, during the flight along said flight trajectory, for guiding the aircraft to arrive at said waypoint at said required arrival time; and B/ applying the determined speed setpoints during the guidance of the aircraft along said flight trajectory, wherein the flight management system: determines an auxiliary arrival time for the aircraft to arrive at an auxiliary waypoint, which corresponds to a start point of said constrained section, wherein the determined auxiliary arrival time complies with said required arrival time at the predetermined waypoint, said auxiliary arrival time being determined as a function of the distance between said predetermined waypoint and said auxiliary waypoint and as a function of the required speed in said constrained section; and wherein: in step A/, auxiliary speed setpoints are determined to guide the aircraft to arrive at said auxiliary arrival time at said auxiliary waypoint; and in step B/, said auxiliary speed setpoints are applied by a guidance system to guide the aircraft, upstream of said constrained section, so that at said auxiliary arrival time the aircraft arrives at said auxiliary waypoint to comply with said required arrival time, while the aircraft flies at said required speed in said constrained section.