Method and system for entering data within a flight plan entry field

A process for presenting acceptable options to an aircraft operator for selectable alternative runway and approach paths, the aircraft having an aircraft avionics flight management system (FMS) having a computer means, the computer means communicating with a monitor, at least one data source and a text entry means, the process comprising the steps of:

• a. notifying the computer means by the text entry means to allow the computer means to obtain a runway list from the data source for all runway associated with a destination airport programmed within the FMS;
• b. removing active runway information from the runway list and sorting all remaining runways by proximity to the active runway heading;
• c. allowing the computer means to select the most likely runway corresponding to the aircraft's new approach and arrival route and displaying;
• d. determining whether additional runways exits in the runway list;
• e. if additional runways exist in the runway list, displaying the runway list to an output device;
• f. if additional runways exist in the runway list, allowing the computer means to generate an approved a list from the data source;
• g. removing, by the computer means, the active approach information from the approach list;
• h. prioritizing all remaining runways by the type of approach available for the selected runway and allowing the computer means to store an approach list;
• and
• i. repeating steps e-h.

A process for presenting at least one new alternate approach pattern to a new runway to an aircraft operator for selection, the aircraft having an aircraft avionics flight management system (FMS) having a computer means, the computer means communicating with a monitor, at least one data source and a text entry means, the process comprising the steps of:

• a. notifying the computer means by the text entry means to determine all legs associated with the new alternate approach and a new intercept point along the new alternate approach;
• b. if the intercept point is within the new runway's final approach, allowing the computer means to control an output device to display an error message;
• c. if the intercept point is not within the new runway's final approach fix, allowing the computer means to control the monitor to display an error message;
• d. if the intercept point is located within the new runway's final approach fix, allowing the computer means to obtain a new leg corresponding to the new alternate approach and to delete waypoints along the leg which the aircraft has passed;
• e. allowing the computer means to calculate a proposed turn direct and intercept angle for the aircraft to achieve the new intercept point in the new alternate approach and controlling the monitor to display the new alternate approach,
• f. repeating steps a-e until the operator accepts or cancels the new alternate approach;
• g. if the operator accepts the new alternate approach, allowing the computer means to replace the active night plan with the new alternate approach in the FMS and executing the new alternate approach.

A method for entering data into an aircraft flight management system having a computer, the computer communicating with a monitor, at least one data source and a text entry means, the method comprising the steps of:

• a. entering at least one alphanumeric character corresponding to a first text identifier into the text entry device and displaying the text entered on a flight plan entry field on the display;
• b. comparing the entered character to data stored in each data source end identifying a likely text identifier that is geographically closest to the aircraft's flight plan;
• and
• c. accepting the text identifier by the text entry means if acceptable to an operator of the aircraft and allowing the computer to modify the aircraft's flight plan corresponding to the accepted text identifier,
• d. notifying the computer by the text entry means to allow the computer to obtain a runway list from the data source for all runways associated with a destination airport;
• and
• e. removing active runway information from the runway list and sorting and listing all remaining runways by proximity to the active runway heading.