Honeywell International Inc.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING A TURN TO JOIN A TRACK BEHIND A PRECEDING AIRCRAFT WHILE MAINTAINING A SPECIFIED SPACING INTERVAL

Abstract:

A visualization assistance system for providing visual assistance to flight crew on an ownship aircraft is provided. The visualization assistance system comprises a controller configured to: receive a designation of a target aircraft for the ownship aircraft to follow requiring execution of a turn to join a track behind the target aircraft; receive flight crew specified spacing information comprising a minimum separation level to be maintained between the designated target aircraft and the ownship aircraft; predict an amount of travel for the ownship aircraft before commencing the turn that after completion joins the ownship aircraft at a joining point to the track behind the target aircraft and maintains the specified minimum separation level; and cause the predicted amount of travel to be graphically displayed on a flight deck display for use by the flight crew when determining when to initiate the turn to join the track behind the target aircraft.