Patent ID: 8527118

Claim:
A computer-based method to automatically manage flight operations of a manned aircraft, comprising: receiving, in a computer-based flight control system, a destination for a flight; determining, in the computer-based flight control system, a predetermined flight path and one or more flight parameters to the destination; navigating an aircraft along the predetermined flight path using autopilot controls; receiving, in the computer-based flight control system, operator input from an operator interface to direct the aircraft along a flight path segment which deviates from the predetermined flight path by overriding the autopilot controls; generating, in the computer-based flight control system, one or more control signals to direct the aircraft from the predetermined flight path to the flight path segment which deviates from the predetermined flight path; generating, in the computer-based flight control system, one or more feedback signals to provide force feedback against control instructions from the operator interface when the control instructions attempt to navigate the aircraft along a flight path segment which deviates from the predetermined flight path, wherein the force feedback indicates that further deviation from the predetermined flight path will not be permitted; and directing the aircraft to resume travel along the predetermined flight path despite the receiving the operator input from the operator interface when a distance of the aircraft from the predetermined flight path exceeds a permitted deviation distance.