Honeywell International Inc.

Brian E O'Laughlin

Michael R Jackson

Gary L Hartmann

Richard Snyder

Rajesh Chaubey

Jim R Rumbo

Mike Jackson

Stephen G Pratt

Rosa N Weber

A method for computing a required speed profile for an aircraft to meet a required time of arrival (RTA) for a waypoint of a current flight is provided. During flight, the method calculates a fuel-efficient speed profile for the aircraft to meet the RTA for the waypoint, by a processor of a computing device communicatively coupled to one or more avionics systems onboard the aircraft; activates the fuel-efficient speed profile to fly the aircraft to the waypoint, by the processor; determines a priority between fuel efficiency of the fuel-efficient speed profile and time reliability, by the processor; and when the priority is the time reliability, switches from the fuel-efficient speed profile to a guidance margin control strategy to fly the aircraft to the waypoint, wherein the guidance margin control strategy increases the time reliability by enabling the aircraft to satisfy constraints of the RTA.

Systems and methods for maximizing time reliability and fuel-efficiency for an aircraft to meet constraints associated with a required time of arrival (RTA)

A method for performing performance prediction with respect to a vertical flight plan. A system performs performance prediction with respect to a vertical flight plan of an aircraft that includes determining which vertical flight plan rules of a plurality of vertical flight rules that have been loaded in a predictions processor are active by monitoring for criteria that are used to initiate or terminate one or more of the vertical flight plan rules. Aircraft state is predicted at waypoints along a lateral flight path in view of active vertical flight plan rules, and the predicted aircraft state is updated within an integrated flight plan database that stores prediction performance data associated with the aircraft's flight.

System and method for vertical flight planning

The accuracy of flight management systems, based on mathematical prediction models calculated from aircraft specific data, are improved by adding engine sensor data to the calculations, checking sensor and pilot entered data, and comparing data measured from redundant sensors. A thrust estimate, calculated from available engine sensors, is added to the thrust-minus-drag aircraft model allowing prediction parameters to be accurately calculated even in a cruise condition. Sensor data and pilot entered data used in calculating predication parameters are checked to improve accuracy. Redundant sensor data is compared to determine the level of agreement. Redundant sensor data is also compared with a valid data range to find the sensor with the most accurate data.

Systems and methods for improved aircraft performance predictions

The instant invention provides a system and method for controlling the flight of an aircraft to meet an RTA. The system comprises a speed profile generator that communicates with a trajectory generator to produce a speed profile signal that enables the aircraft to reach a waypoint substantially at a predetermined time. In the system of the instant invention, the speed profile generator receives a nominal speed command signal, a time error signal and a sensitivity signal. Based on these inputs, the speed profile generator produces a speed profile signal. The trajectory generator receives the speed profile signal and a required time of arrival signal. Based on these signals, the trajectory generator produces a time error signal and a sensitivity signal. This sensitivity signal represents the sensitivity of the time error signal to changes in the speed profile signal.

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Phoenix, AZ, United States of America

Brian E O'Laughlin