Patent ID: 8255099

Claim:
A method of guiding an aircraft via autopilot in roll steering mode comprising the computer implemented steps of: operating an autopilot in roll steering mode, the autopilot receiving roll steering commands from a flight management system that is following a preprogrammed flight plan that is comprised of sequential legs, the flight management system providing roll steering commands related to an active leg of the preprogrammed flight plan; determining a heading unrelated to the preprogrammed flight plan; providing the determined heading to the flight management system; and instructing the flight management system (i) to treat the determined heading as the active leg of the preprogrammed flight plan about which the flight management system roll steering commands being sent to the autopilot are related and (ii) to automatically resume the preprogrammed flight plan when the aircraft intercepts a leg of the preprogrammed flight plan; wherein throughout said steps of determining, providing and instructing, the autopilot is in roll steering mode, avoiding the need to switch the autopilot between roll steering mode and a course heading mode.