Patent ID: 8781654

Claim:
A method for aiding the approach of an aircraft that has deviated from a flight plan including an approach axis, to enable an approach phase for the purpose of landing on a landing runway, the method comprising, automatically and repeatedly: (A) building, by a processing unit on the aircraft, a limit trajectory representing a flight trajectory of the aircraft being compatible with a performance of the aircraft upon the approach phase and which shows limits in which the aircraft can move around, the building of the limit trajectory comprising: (a) receiving, with the processing unit, a current speed vector of the aircraft and current position data, relative to the landing runway and to a stabilization point of the approach phase; (b) determining, by the processing unit, as a function of the performance of the aircraft and of the current speed vector, a vertical profile showing variation of height and of speed of the aircraft as a function of a distance, and the vertical profile configured to completely dissipate the energy of the aircraft upon the approach phase so that an energy state of the aircraft upon arrival at the stabilization point corresponds to a required energy state that is associated with the approach phase along the approach axis; (c) determining, by processing unit, a horizontal trajectory which is non-linear and thereby allows the aircraft to avoid obstacles and rejoin the flight plan to reach the stabilization point while also respecting the vertical profile determined, so as to ensure complete dissipation of the energy of the aircraft upon the approach phase; and (d) determining, by the processing unit, a position of a limit point on the horizontal trajectory, which represents engagement at the latest possible point of the approach phase while remaining within the limits set in the limit trajectory; and (B) displaying, by a viewing screen in a cockpit of the aircraft, the limit trajectory including at least the horizontal trajectory and the limit point, for review by a crew of the aircraft.