Device for aiding the piloting of an aircraft during an approach phase for the purpose of landing

A device to assist with flying an aircraft during an approach phase with a view to landing, said approach phase (PA) exhibiting:

• an initial phase (P1) defined between a first transition point (3) and at least one second transition point (4;
• 4A, 4B), during which phase the aircraft (A) is guided according to a predetermined flight plan observing the required navigation performance;
• and
• a terminal phase (P2) defined between this second transition point (4;
• 4A, 4B) and the landing, during which phase the aircraft (A) is guided along a line of approach (L1),
• said device comprising:
• a collection (5) of information sources capable of supplying information relating to the aircraft (A) and particularly relating to its current position;
• a navigation database (6);
• a calculation system (7) capable of determining:
• a flight path (T1) relative to said flight plan;
• first lateral and vertical deviations between the current position of the aircraft (A) and
• said flight path (T1);
• said line of approach (T1);
• and
• second lateral and vertical deviations between the current position of the aircraft (A) and said line of approach (L1);
• a guidance system (8) capable of assisting with guiding the aircraft;
• and
• a display system (9),
• wherein:
• said device (1) additionally comprises a control system (10) comprising at least one actuatable control means (11A, 11B, 11n) allowing a pilot of the aircraft to instigate a hybrid approach mode comprising a first guidance mode for guiding the aircraft (A) during said initial phase (P1) and a second guidance mode for guiding the aircraft (A) during said terminal phase (P2);
• said calculation system (7) is formed in such a way as to determine, as soon as said control means (11A, 11B, 11n) is actuated, both said first and second deviations relative to said instigated hybrid approach mode and to do so as soon as all the information needed to do so becomes available onboard the aircraft (A);
• said guidance system (8) is formed in such a way as to assist with guiding the aircraft (A), if said control means (11A, 11B, 11n) is actuated, both during said initial phase (P1) between said first and second transition points in accordance with said first guidance mode, and during said terminal phase (P2) from said second transition point onwards, according to said second guidance mode, the transition between said first and second guidance modes being performed automatically by said guidance system (8);
• and
• said display system (9) is formed in such a way as to display, on at least one display screen (12, 13), as soon as said control means (11A, 11B, 11n) is actuated, at least:
• an indication means indicating said hybrid approach mode instigated;
• an indication means indicating, as appropriate, at least the current guidance mode of said instigated hybrid approach mode;
• and
• indication means respectively representative of said first and second deviations, this being as soon as these become available.