Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing flight management services with non-standard databases. The system has a flight management system (FMS) for an aircraft that calculates flight management services for the aircraft. Also included is a standard avionics database onboard the aircraft that provides data to the FMS for the calculation of flight management services for the aircraft. A non-standard avionics database is located external to the FMS that is a dynamic linked library (DLL) which provides enhanced supplemental data to the FMS for the calculation of flight management services for the aircraft.

Abstract: An automatic diversion management system on-board an aircraft is provided. The diversion management system is configured to automatically detect a need for the aircraft to divert from a primary airport to a diversion airport; automatically initiate diversion planning to a suitable diversion airport responsive to detecting conditions that can cause a need for diversion; automatically create a diversion flight plan; automatically send a clearance request to air traffic control (ATC) for a first type of conditions causing a need for diversion and send a clearance request to ATC, responsive to flight crew action, for a second type of conditions causing a need for diversion; and automatically activate the diversion flight plan after receipt of ATC clearance for the first type of conditions causing a need for diversion and activate the diversion flight plan, responsive to flight crew action, for the second type of conditions causing a need for diversion.

Abstract: A system and method of displaying optimized aircraft energy level to a flight crew includes processing flight plan data, in a processor, to determine the optimized aircraft energy level along a descent profile of the aircraft from cruise altitude down to aircraft destination, and continuously processing aircraft data, in the processor, to continuously determine, in real-time, an actual aircraft energy level. The actual aircraft energy level of the aircraft is continuously compared, in the processor, to the optimized aircraft energy level. The processor is use to command a display device to render an image that indicates: (i) the optimized aircraft energy level, (ii) how the actual aircraft energy level differs from the optimized aircraft energy level, and (iii) how the actual aircraft energy level is trending relative to the optimized aircraft energy level.

Abstract: Provided are enhanced flight guidance systems and methods for an aircraft. The method includes recognizing when the aircraft is in manual operation and an active flight path is different than the planned flight path. An interrupt is received and categorized as one of (i) obstacle, (ii) equipment/fuel, or (iii) pilot health monitor. A managed mode begins, including identifying a rejoining leg of the planned flight path at which to rejoin and a location on the rejoining leg at which to rejoin. A recapture path strategy is selected from (i) lateral, (ii) vertical, and (iii) mixed lateral and vertical. A recapture path to the location on the rejoining leg is computed. The computed recapture path includes speed targets and configuration requirements at dedicated points along the recapture path. Aircraft state data along the recapture path is predicted and guidance controls for the aircraft along the recapture path are generated.

Abstract: An automatic diversion management system on-board an aircraft is provided. The diversion management system is configured to automatically detect a need for the aircraft to divert from a primary airport to a diversion airport; automatically initiate diversion planning to a suitable diversion airport responsive to detecting conditions that can cause a need for diversion; automatically create a diversion flight plan; automatically send a clearance request to air traffic control (ATC) for a first type of conditions causing a need for diversion and send a clearance request to ATC, responsive to flight crew action, for a second type of conditions causing a need for diversion; and automatically activate the diversion flight plan after receipt of ATC clearance for the first type of conditions causing a need for diversion and activate the diversion flight plan, responsive to flight crew action, for the second type of conditions causing a need for diversion.

Abstract: Provided are enhanced flight guidance systems and methods for an aircraft. The method includes recognizing when the aircraft is in manual operation and an active flight path is different than the planned flight path. An interrupt is received and categorized as one of (i) obstacle, (ii) equipment/fuel, or (iii) pilot health monitor. A managed mode begins, including identifying a rejoining leg of the planned flight path at which to rejoin and a location on the rejoining leg at which to rejoin. A recapture path strategy is selected from (i) lateral, (ii) vertical, and (iii) mixed lateral and vertical. A recapture path to the location on the rejoining leg is computed. The computed recapture path includes speed targets and configuration requirements at dedicated points along the recapture path. Aircraft state data along the recapture path is predicted and guidance controls for the aircraft along the recapture path are generated.

Abstract: A system and method of displaying optimized aircraft energy level to a flight crew includes processing flight plan data, in a processor, to determine the optimized aircraft energy level along a descent profile of the aircraft from cruise altitude down to aircraft destination, and continuously processing aircraft data, in the processor, to continuously determine, in real-time, an actual aircraft energy level. The actual aircraft energy level of the aircraft is continuously compared, in the processor, to the optimized aircraft energy level. The processor is use to command a display device to render an image that indicates: (i) the optimized aircraft energy level, (ii) how the actual aircraft energy level differs from the optimized aircraft energy level, and (iii) how the actual aircraft energy level is trending relative to the optimized aircraft energy level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes strategies for improving required time of arrival reliability by an aircraft comprising determining a speed correction for one of AT speed constraints or an AT or ABOVE speed constraints, wherein the determining is selected from one or more of the mechanisms from the group consisting of continuous RTA speed management between constraints, padding of the AT speed constraints and the AT or ABOVE speed constraints; decelerating proactively; and using a variable guidance margin, wherein the guidance margin is a speed change not reflected in a flight plan prediction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes strategies for improving required time of arrival reliability by an aircraft comprising determining a speed correction for one of AT speed constraints or an AT or ABOVE speed constraints, wherein the determining is selected from one or more of the mechanisms from the group consisting of continuous RTA speed management between constraints, padding of the AT speed constraints and the AT or ABOVE speed constraints; decelerating proactively; and using a variable guidance margin, wherein the guidance margin is a speed change not reflected in a flight plan prediction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes long term and short term strategies for improving 4D trajectory reliability and required time of arrival reliability. The long term strategy changes speeds along the trajectory to remove the time error in predictions. The short term strategy compensates for wind and position error, for example, by temporarily changing an aircraft guidance speed by applying a guidance margin that would either delay or prevent re-computation of the speed targets along the flight path. The predictions would use the original speed target without the guidance margin application. The guidance speed target will stay applied until the predicted time error crosses a threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus includes long term and short term strategies for improving 4D trajectory reliability and required time of arrival reliability. The long term strategy changes speeds along the trajectory to remove the time error in predictions. The short term strategy compensates for wind and position error, for example, by temporarily changing an aircraft guidance speed by applying a guidance margin that would either delay or prevent re-computation of the speed targets along the flight path. The predictions would use the original speed target without the guidance margin application. The guidance speed target will stay applied until the predicted time error crosses a threshold.