Patent ID: 8160756

Claim:
A method of generating a controlled speed for an aircraft along a ground trajectory, comprising the steps of: a) receiving a ground trajectory comprised of a series of successive elements and receiving a speed profile which defines, for each element of the ground trajectory, associated speed values; b) measuring a current position of the aircraft; c) calculating an interpolated speed of the speed profile that corresponds to the current position of of the aircraft, wherein the interpolated speed is calculated on the basis of said ground trajectory, said speed profile and said current position; d) calculating, by a weighting factor calculation unit, a weighting factor from an angular deviation, wherein the angular deviation is calculated by an angular deviation calculation unit from a measured current aircraft heading and the ground trajectory; e) determining an auxiliary speed from said interpolated speed; and f) multiplying the determined auxiliary speed by said weighting factor to generate said controlled speed which represents a longitudinal speed command that commands the aircraft to move along said ground trajectory while complying with said speed profile.