Patent ID: 7912594

Claim:
A predicted path selection system for aircraft: a controlling means for controlling control surfaces and propulsion systems of an aircraft to cause an 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 comprising a plurality of waypoints sequenced by the aircraft and inputting the planned path to the controlling means; 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 and planned path after detecting activation, and selecting the constrained path as the predicted flight path when the aircraft location is within a tolerance distance from the constrained path and the aircraft location and a next unsequenced waypoint forming the planned path either both satisfy the constraint or both violate the constraint.