Patent ID: 7237747

Claim:
A device for assisting an airplane intercept a flight path, the device comprising: a calculator that calculates a ground speed vector of the airplane; a display screen; and a symbol generator connected to said calculator and that is arranged to generate symbols that are displayed on said display screen, the generated symbols including, the flight path that is to be intercepted, a first symbol indicating a position of the airplane relative to the flight path, a first indicator that is attached to said first symbol and that is a straight line with an angular orientation corresponding to a direction of the ground speed vector and with a length that varies and corresponds to a magnitude of the ground speed vector when the magnitude exceeds a predetermined value and that is constant and proportional to the predetermined value when the magnitude is less than or equal to the predetermined value, a second indicator that is attached to said first indicator and that is a straight line whose direction indicates an initial part of a future approach path for intercepting the flight path and whose length adjusts as the position of the airplane changes relative to the flight path, and a third indicator that extends tangentially from said second indicator and that is connected tangentially to the flight path, said third indicator being a curved line indicating a final part of the future approach path for intercepting the flight path.