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 |
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.
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