Patent ID: 8775062

Claim:
A method for terminal aircraft sequencing and conflict resolution, comprising: detecting, by a terminal aircraft sequencing system, an actual or potential violation of a minimum time separation between first and second aircraft, wherein the minimum time separation is greater than a difference between an estimated time of arrival (ETA) of the second aircraft and an ETA of the first aircraft at a common point; calculating, by the terminal aircraft sequencing system, a required delay of the second aircraft, wherein the required delay is equal to the minimum time separation minus the difference between the estimated times of arrival of the first and second aircraft; determining, by the terminal aircraft sequencing system, an achievable time control window of the second aircraft, wherein determining the achievable time control window comprises determining an earliest ETA and a latest ETA achievable by the second aircraft at the common point without modifying a lateral path of flight of the second aircraft; comparing, by the terminal aircraft sequencing system, the required delay to the achievable time control window of the second aircraft; and issuing, by the terminal aircraft sequencing system, one of a speed control advisory message, a lateral offset advisory message, and a manual controller intervention advisory message based on the comparison of the required delay and the achievable time control window of the second aircraft.