Patent ID: 7672758

Claim:
A method of assisting the piloting of a rotary wing aircraft in the vicinity of a landing or takeoff point, the method comprising: using a computer configured to determine the locus of entry and/or exit points for a given approach and/or departure altitude that are not safe for reaching said landing point or on leaving said takeoff point of the rotary wing aircraft, on the basis of coordinates for the landing or takeoff point input into the computer by a tool for inputting coordinates and suitable for being manipulated by a pilot, and taking account of a climb/descent template or profile of the rotary wing aircraft; and presenting a diagram including said locus on a display device, wherein a limit curve segment is determined corresponding to the trace in the plane or level corresponding to said altitude of the template or profile passing through the landing or takeoff point and grazing or bearing against the top of an obstacle extending in the vicinity of the landing or takeoff point; and wherein at least one segment of the limit curve is determined that extends in a plane or level corresponding to said altitude, the portion of the limit curve separating the locus of safe entry and/or exit points from unsafe entry and/or exit points, and the landing or takeoff point together with the segment of the limit curve are displayed on the display device.