Method and device for assisting in the piloting of an aircraft in free flight
AssigneeAirbus France
InventorFalk Winkler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and a device for assisting in the piloting of an aircraft in free flight. The device (1) comprises display means (2) which present in a display window (3) of a screen (4) an information presentation illustrating a vertical plane and which are formed so as to position the display window (3) altitude-wise and a symbol illustrating the aircraft vertically in this display window (3), according to the current flight phase, the current altitude and the current value of a particular vertical parameter of the aircraft.
Claims9
A method of assisting in the piloting of an aircraft in free flight, wherein there is presented, on at least one display window (3) of at least one display screen (4) of said aircraft, an information presentation (5) which illustrates a vertical plane and which comprises:
- a system of axes, of which a y-axis (7) is graduated altitude-wise, and an x-axis (8) is graduated distance-wise from the position of the aircraft;
- a characteristic symbol (9) representing the aircraft, which is positioned on said y-axis (7) in a position representative of the altitude of said aircraft;
- and
- a trace (T1) representing a profile of the ground being flown over and revealing a vertical section (10),
- wherein, during a flight of the aircraft, the following series of steps is carried out automatically and successively:
- a) the current flight phase of the aircraft is determined;
- b) the current altitude of the aircraft is determined;
- c) the current value of a particular parameter of the aircraft, which illustrates a vertical characteristic of the latter, is determined;
- d) based on said current flight phase, said current altitude and said current value of said particular parameter, there are determined:
- a reference height (Zac) corresponding to a height of said characteristic symbol (9) in said display window (3);
- and
- a reference altitude (ALTref) corresponding to the altitude of the lowest point of the vertical section (10) displayed;
- and
- e) the following are positioned:
- said display window (3), altitude-wise such that the lowest point (P1) of the vertical section (10) displayed in said display window (3) is located at said reference altitude (ALTref) on said y-axis (7) graduated altitude-wise;
- and
- said characteristic symbol (9), vertically in said display window (3) at a height corresponding to said reference height (Zac).
A device for assisting in the piloting of an aircraft in free flight, said device (1) comprising display means (2) that can show, on at least one display window (3) of at least one display screen (4) of said aircraft, an information presentation (5) which illustrates a vertical plane and which comprises:
- a system of axes, of which a y-axis (7) is graduated altitude-wise, and an x-axis (8) is graduated distance-wise from the position of the aircraft;
- a characteristic symbol (9) representing the aircraft, which is placed on said y-axis (7) in a position representative of the altitude of said aircraft;
- and
- a trace (T1) representing a profile of the ground being flown over and revealing a vertical section (10),
- wherein:
- said device (1) also comprises:
- a first means (14) for determining the current flight phase of the aircraft;
- a second means (15) for determining the current altitude of the aircraft;
- a third means (16) for determining the current value of a particular parameter of the aircraft, which illustrates a vertical characteristic of the latter;
- and
- a fourth means (17) for determining, from said current flight phase, said current altitude and said current value of said particular parameter:
- a reference height (Zac) corresponding to a height of said characteristic symbol (9) in said display window (3);
- and
- a reference altitude (ALTref) corresponding to the altitude of the lowest point of the vertical section (10) displayed;
- and
- said display means (2) are formed so as to position:
- said display window (3) altitude-wise such that the lowest point (P1) of the vertical section (10) displayed in said display window (3) is located at said reference altitude (ALTref) on said y-axis (7) graduated altitude-wise;
- and
- said characteristic symbol (9) vertically in said display window (3) at a height corresponding to said reference height (Zac).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.