Method and a device for assisting the piloting of an aircraft during an approach phase

A method for assisting the piloting of an aircraft (A) during an approach phase for the purpose of landing on a landing runway, wherein the following series of successive steps is carried out in an automatic and repetitive manner:

• a) there is determined a first angular deviation (LOCDEV) which corresponds to an angular deviation in a horizontal plane between, on the one hand, a straight line (4) passing through the actual position (B1) of the aircraft (A) and through a point of origin (PA) of a first approach path (3) and, on the other hand, said first approach path (3) which depends on the landing runway;
• b) there is determined a second angular deviation (GSDEV) which corresponds to an angular deviation in a vertical plane between, on the one hand, a straight line (20) passing through the actual position (B2) of the aircraft (A) and through a point of origin (PB) of a second approach path (6) and, on the other hand, said second approach path (6) which also depends on the landing runway;
• c) there is determined, using said first and second angular deviations (LOCDEV, GSDEV), a first point (P1) depending on the heading (16) of the aircraft (A);
• d) there is displayed on a display screen (12) of a head-up display device (10) of the aircraft (A), superimposed on the environment seen in front of the aircraft (A), a first straight line (13) passing through this first point (P1) and through a second point (P2) which illustrates the orientation on the ground of said first approach path (3), seen from the aircraft (A), and which is placed on a horizon line (14) provided with a heading scale (15), relative to the heading (16) of the aircraft (A), said first straight line (13) representing in a true manner the plot on the ground of said first approach path (3);
• e) there is displayed on the display screen (12) a first assistance point (25) such that said first straight line (13) passes through this first assistance point (25) when the aircraft (A) is aligned on said first approach path (3);
• f) there is displayed on the display screen (12) a second straight line (21), parallel with the horizon line (14) and passing through said first point (P1), this second straight line (21) representing in a true manner the plot on the ground of the ending on the ground of said second approach path (6);
• g) there is displayed on the display screen {12) a second assistance point (23) placed under the horizon line (14) and representing the slope of said second approach path (6), seen from the aircraft (A);
• and
• h) there is displayed on the display screen (12) a synthetic runway (22), defined around said first point (P1), this synthetic runway (22) representing in a true manner the plot on the ground of the sides of the landing runway where said first and second approach paths (3, 6) end.