Patent ID: 7647140

Claim:
A system for aiding piloting of an aircraft during an approach to a runway with a view to a landing, the approach following a predetermined approach trajectory allowing the aircraft to carry out a stabilized approach to the runway, said system comprising: an information source that provides information relating to the aircraft and to its environment; a computation unit; and an indicator, wherein: said computation unit determines, with the aid of information provided by said information source, an energy reference profile, comprising a trajectory reference profile representing a preset trajectory to be followed and a speed reference profile representing a preset speed to be complied with during flight along said trajectory reference profile, that is configured to enable the aircraft to regain the predetermined approach trajectory, if it follows said energy reference profile, regardless of the initial configuration of the aircraft in terms of speed and altitude; said system furthermore comprises a monitor for verifying that the aircraft is following said energy reference profile; said indicator supplies the pilot with piloting indications that are configured to enable at least piloting of said aircraft in such a way that it follows said energy reference profile; said computation unit uses, as the predetermined approach trajectory, a trajectory that is configured to enable the aircraft to carry out a stabilized approach to the runway; and said predetermined approach trajectory exhibits a constant slope between two different predetermined altitudes, the aircraft having to exhibit a predetermined constant speed at least at the higher altitude of said two altitudes so as to be able to carry out the stabilized approach.