| CPC G08G 5/025 (2013.01) [G08G 5/0043 (2013.01); G08G 5/0091 (2013.01); G08G 5/045 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. A method of controlling timing of aircraft landing, comprising:
providing a backward trajectory management system, including one or more processors and a memory having a plurality of stored instructions, and
using the backward trajectory management system to:
receive traffic and airspace data for a plurality of aircraft, including aircraft position and trajectory, weather data, and aircraft performance data, from external sources including an Arrival Manager and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast system,
select a first leading aircraft and a first trailing aircraft of the plurality of aircraft, each aircraft being on a flight path configured for landing on a runway,
determine an adequate separation distance between the first leading aircraft and the first trailing aircraft to provide safe landing,
back calculate a trajectory profile from a touchdown point on the runway, to a current airspace position of the first leading aircraft, and estimating when the first leading aircraft will arrive at the touchdown point based on the received traffic and airspace data for the first leading aircraft,
back calculate a trajectory profile from the touchdown point to a current airspace position of the first trailing aircraft, and determine a time point when the first trailing aircraft will intersect an arc having a merge point as a center, based on the received traffic and airspace data for the first trailing aircraft,
stop back calculation of the trajectory profile for the first leading aircraft at the time point when the first trailing aircraft will intersect the arc,
calculate a delta distance (L) that the first trailing aircraft should travel along the arc before turning toward the merge point to provide adequate separation between the first leading aircraft and the first trailing aircraft for safe landing, and
synchronously communicate calculated trajectory profiles and an altered flight path for the first trailing aircraft including the delta distance (L) with an Air Traffic Control operator.
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