US 11,721,223 B2
Method and system for engaging a vertical navigation descent mode for an aircraft
Dorothee De Villele, Montjoire (FR); Rajesh Chaubey, Bangalore (IN); John Hillier, Phoenix, AZ (US); and Daniel E. Lewis, Glendale, AZ (US)
Assigned to HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC., Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC., Morris Plains, NJ (US)
Filed on Nov. 16, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/193,522.
Prior Publication US 2020/0160731 A1, May 21, 2020
Int. Cl. G08G 5/00 (2006.01); G05D 1/06 (2006.01)
CPC G08G 5/0047 (2013.01) [G08G 5/0013 (2013.01); G08G 5/0021 (2013.01); G08G 5/0039 (2013.01); G05D 1/0676 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for planning a vertical navigational descent (VNAV/DES) mode of a flight management system (FMS) for an aircraft during pre-flight planning, the method comprising:
retrieving a preset vertical navigation (VNAV) profile for a descent path of the aircraft as part of the pre-flight planning, where the preset VNAV profile is stored in the FMS;
determining a current flight path angle (FPA) and vertical speed (VS) of the aircraft;
selecting an intercept point for the preset VNAV profile, where the intercept point is manually selected by an aircrew member;
calculating intercept parameters and constructing a pre-VNAV path for the aircraft to intercept the preset VNAV profile at the selected intercept point with the VNAV/DES mode of the FMS, where the intercept parameters are calculated based on the current FPA and VS;
displaying the intercept parameters to the aircrew member of the aircraft on a visual display device; and
allowing the aircrew member to accept the intercept parameters for the aircraft to intercept the preset VNAV profile with the VNAV/DES mode of the FMS as part of the pre-flight planning.