Adaptive system and method for presenting speed and altitude recommendations for supersonic flight

A method in an aircraft for presenting speed and altitude recommendations for supersonic flight on an aircraft display unit, the method comprising:

• positioning, for display via a graphical display window on the aircraft display unit, a graphical representation of a travel path that includes a waypoint icon for each of a plurality of waypoints along the travel path, a graphical representation of the altitude of terrain underneath the travel path, and an aircraft icon positioned in the graphical display window at a current altitude and a current position relative to the travel path;
• predicting, based on received aircraft sensor inputs from on board aircraft sensors, an optimum speed and altitude profile while flying in a supersonic phase of flight between the plurality of waypoints for a current aircraft model, wind conditions, and mission;
• determining using a SONIC boom prediction model whether the optimum speed and altitude profile would cause an acceptable BOOM effect per a predefined BOOM effect threshold limit during flight between the plurality of waypoints, wherein a BOOM effect is a perceived sound level on land due to unrestricted supersonic flight over land, and wherein a BOOM effect threshold limit is an acceptable perceived sound level on land due to supersonic flight over land;
• positioning on the graphical display window, for a selected speed, a graphical representation of both a BOOM impact altitude profile at the current aircraft altitude and a minimum no BOOM altitude profile, wherein the BOOM impact altitude profile indicates the altitude for the selected speed at which the perceived sound level from the sonic boom is at an acceptable level, and wherein the no BOOM altitude profile indicates the minimum supersonic flight altitude for the selected speed that would result in an acceptable perceived sound level on land;
• and
• positioning on the graphical display window, for the selected speed, a graphical representation of a flight crew inputted proposed altitude adjustment for flight between a first plurality of the waypoints, and a graphical representation of a modified BOOM impact altitude profile based on the proposed altitude adjustment between the first plurality of the waypoints.

Non-transitory computer readable media configured by programming instructions configurable to cause a controller to perform a method, the method comprising:

• positioning, for display via a graphical display window on a display unit, a graphical representation of a travel path that includes a waypoint icon for each of a plurality of waypoints along the travel path, a graphical representation of the altitude of terrain underneath the travel path, and an aircraft icon positioned in the graphical display window at a current altitude and a current position relative to the travel path;
• predicting, based on received aircraft sensor inputs from on board aircraft sensors, an optimum speed and altitude profile while flying in a supersonic phase of flight between the plurality of waypoints for a current aircraft model, wind conditions, and mission;
• determining using a SONIC boom prediction model whether the optimum speed and altitude profile would cause an acceptable BOOM effect per a predefined BOOM effect threshold limit during flight between the plurality of waypoints, wherein a BOOM effect is a perceived sound level on land due to unrestricted supersonic flight over land, and wherein a BOOM effect threshold limit is an acceptable perceived sound level on land due to supersonic flight over land;
• positioning on the graphical display window, for a selected speed, a graphical representation of both a BOOM impact altitude profile at the current aircraft altitude and a minimum no BOOM altitude profile, wherein the BOOM impact altitude profile indicates the altitude for the selected speed at which the perceived sound level from the sonic boom is at an acceptable level, and wherein the no BOOM altitude profile indicates the minimum supersonic flight altitude for the selected speed that would result in an acceptable perceived sound level on land;
• and
• positioning on the graphical display window, for the selected speed, a graphical representation of a flight crew inputted proposed altitude adjustment for flight between a first plurality of the waypoints, and a graphical representation of a modified BOOM impact altitude profile based on the proposed altitude adjustment between the first plurality of the waypoints.