Patent ID: 7801649

Claim:
A predicted path selection system for aircraft comprising: a controlling means for controlling control surfaces and propulsion systems of an aircraft to cause the aircraft to follow an actual path, the controlling means receiving a first input describing a planned path and a second input indicating a constraint on the actual path in at least one direction, the controlling means selectively causing the aircraft to conform the actual path to the planned path or a constrained path corresponding to the constraint; a means for inputting the constraint to the controlling means; a flight planning means for calculating a planned path and inputting the planned path to the controlling means; and a surveillance means for detecting locations of hazards and producing alerts corresponding to hazards near a predicted flight path, the surveillance means detecting activation of the constraint, detecting an aircraft location, comparing the aircraft location to the constrained path upon detecting activation of the constraint, and issuing alerts for hazards located along the constrained path when the aircraft location is within a tolerance distance of the constrained path.