Patent ID: 6871124

Claim:
An aircraft guidance system comprising: a flight management system (FMS) which is designed to provide detailed guidance information to a pilot upon selection by the pilot of published instrument procedures; a mode select, coupled to said FMS, said mode select configured for selecting a circling scenario, where a circling selection of the circling scenario results in an automatic and immediate generation, by said FMS, of heading, pitch-and-roll guidance information, which is responsive to a random current position at a time when said circling selection occurs; a display, coupled to said FMS, for visually presenting said heading, pitch-and-roll guidance information to the pilot; wherein said heading, pitch-and-roll guidance information is responsive to both an input of a predetermined maximum bank angle and a location determined after said circling selection is made; and wherein said heading, pitch-and-roll guidance information is further responsive to a predetermined obstacle clearance assurance determined after said circling selection is made.