Systems and methods for identifying a number of feasible target traffic for a paired approach

A system for an aircraft to receive and process weather data and traffic data to identify a number of feasible target traffic for a paired approach for the aircraft, the system comprising:

• a display unit;
• and
• a controller circuit configured by programming instructions to:
• generate a trajectory of the aircraft as a function of received aircraft state data;
• determine that the aircraft is entering a terminal radar approach control (TRACON) airspace;
• filter the received traffic data to identify a plurality of neighbor traffic that are entering the TRACON airspace or are within the TRACON airspace when the aircraft is entering the TRACON airspace;
• estimate, concurrently, for each neighbor traffic of the plurality of neighbor traffic:
• a trajectory, a traffic arrival time at a location for a respective paired approach with the aircraft, a spacing interval between the neighbor traffic and the aircraft for the respective paired approach, and a respective target location for the aircraft to begin the respective paired approach, as a function of the spacing interval;
• identify the number of feasible target traffic as those neighbor traffic for which the aircraft can achieve the respective target location within a prescribed amount of time, based on a current speed of the aircraft and the respective estimations;
• identify, when the aircraft is not permitted a speed change, infeasible target traffic as those neighbor traffic for which the aircraft cannot achieve the respective target location within the prescribed amount of time, based on the current speed of the aircraft;
• and
• present on the display unit, a lateral image having each feasible target and each infeasible target indicated with a respective icon depicting a location, a heading and its feasibility.

A method for an aircraft entering a terminal radar approach control (TRACON) airspace to identify a number of feasible target traffic for a paired approach for the aircraft, the method comprising:

• at a controller circuit programmed by programming instructions:
• receiving weather data;
• receiving traffic data from a plurality of traffic;
• filtering the received traffic data to identify a plurality of neighbor traffic that are entering the TRACON airspace or are within the TRACON airspace when the aircraft is entering the TRACON airspace;
• estimating, concurrently, for each neighbor traffic of the plurality of neighbor traffic that are entering the TRACON airspace or within the TRACON airspace:
• a trajectory, a traffic arrival time at a location for a respective paired approach with the aircraft, a spacing interval between the neighbor traffic and the aircraft for the respective paired approach, and a respective target location for the aircraft to begin the respective paired approach, as a function of the spacing interval;
• identifying, based on the estimations, the number of feasible target traffic as those neighbor traffic for which the aircraft can achieve the respective target location within a prescribed amount of time, based on a current speed of the aircraft;
• and
• presenting on a display unit, a lateral image having an icon depicting the aircraft, its location, and its heading and having each feasible target indicated with a respective icon depicting a location, a heading and its feasibility.