Airbus Helicopters

Nicolas Canale

Lionel Iraudo

A method and a system for establishing an approach to hover path for a rotorcraft enabling it to approach a mobile target and to hover relative to the target. An initial approach to hover path is firstly defined from measurements of the characteristics of the respective routes of the target and of the rotorcraft and also of the wind conditions to which the rotorcraft is subjected. During the flight of the rotorcraft, a required approach to hover path is determined in real time as a function of potential variations in the characteristics of the target, of the rotorcraft, and of the wind. Thereafter, the initial path is updated by the required path where necessary in order to guarantee safety of the approach to hover path for the rotorcraft relative to the target.

Method and a system for assisting a rotorcraft to approach and hover relative to a mobile target

A method having a preparation stage for preparing an approach path () to a theoretical position (') of a platform (). During a consolidation stage, a current position (&#x2033;) of said platform () is determined and an alert is triggered when the distance (D) between said theoretical position (&#x2032;) and said current position (&#x2033;) is greater than a first threshold. During a security stage, entities provided with respective automatic identification systems and present in a predetermined monitoring zone (OCZ) are monitored, and a horizontal representation of said approach path () is displayed on a display screen () together with the following for each entity: a plot () representing its current position; an indication () of the travel direction of the entity; and a representation () relating to the danger level of the entity.

Method of approaching a platform

A method of facilitating the approach to a platform by an aircraft. The value of the required position integrity performance (RNP) is determined for a localization system. During an approach stage, this position integrity performance (RNP) is compared with a position integrity radius (HPL) resulting from the use of a GNSS localization system, and an alert is generated if the position integrity radius (HPL) is greater than the position integrity performance (RNP).

Method of facilitating the approach to a platform

A method of facilitating the approach to a platform by an aircraft, the method comprising a step of constructing a database, including for each stored platform at least one identifier of the platform, coordinates of a geometrical center of the platform, a height of the geometrical center, and the radius (OR) of a circle in which the platform lies. During a parameter-setting step, the target platform to be reached, a course to be followed, and a height parameter relative to a minimum decision altitude are determined. During a path construction step, the positions of an initial approach fix (IAF), of a final approach fix (FAF), and of a decision point (MAP) are determined by placing them in a plane that is offset relative to the platform.

A procedure for facilitating the approach to a platform [PF] with an aircraft [] including a construction stage [STP1] for a database [] that includes, for each stored platform [PF], attributes that include at least one platform identifier, the coordinates of the platform, a landing height [HDECK] of a landing zone of the platform, and the radius (OR) of a circle within which the platform is inscribed. During a parameterization stage [STP2], the target platform to be reached is determined, along with a course (CRS) to be followed and a height parameter relative to a minimum decision altitude (MDA). During a construction stage [STP3], the position of an initial approach fix (IAF) is determined, along with the position of a final approach fix (FAF), an offset point (OIP), and a decision point (MAP), in response to the information and in response to the attributes.

Procedure for facilitating the approach to a platform

A method having a preparation stage for preparing an approach path () to a theoretical position (') of a platform (). During a consolidation stage, a current position (&#x2033;) of said platform () is determined and an alert is triggered when the distance (D1) between said theoretical position (&#x2032;) and said current position (&#x2033;) is greater than a first threshold. During a security stage, entities provided with respective automatic identification systems and present in a predetermined monitoring zone (OCZ) are monitored, and a horizontal representation of said approach path () is displayed on a display screen () together with the following for each entity: a plot () representing its current position; an indication () of the travel direction of the entity; and a representation () relating to the danger level of the entity.

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Marseilles, France

Nicolas Canale