Method for automatically rejoining a reference vertical profile of an aircraft

A trajectory calculation system comprising a processor configured to perform an automatic adaptation of a vertical profile of an aircraft, said adaptation comprising at least:

• a step of selecting an altitude constraint to be complied with;
• a step of calculating a vertical-profile prediction allowing the vertical profile of the aircraft to have an altitude within a permissible range of an altitude defined by the altitude constraint at an altitude constraint position;
• a step of validating the vertical-profile prediction;
• if compliance with the vertical-profile prediction is validated, a step of assigning the vertical-profile prediction, said step of assigning the vertical-profile prediction comprising:
• sending an aircraft descent segment to an automatic pilot configured to send commands to actuators of the aircraft according to the aircraft descent segment, so that the aircraft follows the vertical-profile prediction,
• or displaying said aircraft descent segment to a pilot, receiving a subsequent flight command by the pilot and sending said flight command to the actuators of the aircraft so that the aircraft follows the vertical-profile prediction;
• otherwise:
• a step of determining an existence of a subsequent altitude constraint to be complied with;
• if the subsequent altitude constraint exists:
• a step of selecting the subsequent altitude constraint to be complied with;
• a return to step of calculating the vertical-profile prediction allowing the vertical profile of the aircraft to comply with said altitude constraint;
• otherwise, a step of applying an exit procedure.

A computer program product comprising program code instructions recorded on a non-transitory computer-readable medium for automatically adapting a vertical profile of an aircraft when said program operates on a computer, said program code instructions being configured to:

• select an altitude constraint to be complied with;
• calculate a vertical-profile prediction allowing the vertical profile of the aircraft to have an altitude within permissible range of an altitude defined by the altitude constraint at an altitude constraint position;
• validate the vertical-profile prediction;
• if the vertical-profile prediction is validated, execute a step of assigning the vertical-profile prediction, said step of assigning the vertical-profile prediction comprising:
• sending an aircraft descent segment to an automatic pilot configured to send commands to actuators of the aircraft according to the aircraft descent segment, so that the aircraft follows the vertical-profile prediction,
• or displaying said aircraft descent segment to a pilot, receiving a subsequent flight command by the pilot and sending said flight commands to the actuators of the aircraft so that the aircraft follows the vertical-profile prediction;
• if the vertical-profile prediction is not validated:
• determine an existence of a subsequent altitude constraint to be complied with;
• if a subsequent altitude constraint exists:
• select a subsequent altitude constraint to be complied with;
• execute computer code elements configured to calculate the vertical-profile prediction allowing the vertical profile of the aircraft to comply with said altitude constraint;
• if a subsequent altitude constraint does not exist, execute an exit procedure.