Patent ID: 7165747

Claim:
A method of guiding an aircraft at least over an intermediate trajectory between a first flight trajectory for a low-altitude flight and a second flight trajectory which starts at an initial point, and from which trajectory a parachute drop is carried out, said method comprising: projecting a first straight line exhibiting a first slope which is positive and a second straight line exhibiting a second slope which is negative into a vertical plane, from said initial point, upstream; determining the various points of crossover between, on the one hand, said first and second straight lines and, on the other hand, said first flight trajectory, in the vertical plane; and selecting one of said points of crossover, namely that which is situated closest to said initial point, as a point of transition; and using said point of transition to guide the aircraft between said first and second flight trajectories, wherein said point of transition lies on said first flight trajectory, represents the start of said intermediate trajectory, and corresponds to the point where the aircraft must exit said first flight trajectory so as to reach said initial point under predetermined flight conditions.