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CN-121982939-A - Aircraft flight path holding route system and method

CN121982939ACN 121982939 ACN121982939 ACN 121982939ACN-121982939-A

Abstract

Aircraft flight path holding airline systems and methods. A flight path holding pattern system (100) is configured to determine an efficient holding pattern (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) for an aircraft (102). The flight path holding pattern system (100) includes a holding pattern determination unit (106), the holding pattern determination unit (106) being configured to automatically generate the holding pattern (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) for the aircraft (102) based on one or more of current air traffic for a destination airport (204), historical holding patterns for the destination airport (204), current weather conditions for the destination airport (204), and fuel consumption of one or both of the aircraft (102) and at least one other aircraft.

Inventors

  • S A Schwarz
  • G. G. Para
  • A Carle million
  • M. Zadroga

Assignees

  • 波音公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20180327
Priority Date
20170331

Claims (18)

  1. 1. A flight path holding pattern system (100) configured to generate an efficient holding pattern (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) for an aircraft (102), the flight path holding pattern system (100) comprising: -a holding pattern determination unit (106), the holding pattern determination unit (106) being configured to automatically generate the holding pattern (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) for the aircraft (102), wherein the holding pattern determination unit (106) automatically generates the holding pattern (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) for the aircraft (102) based on at least one of current air traffic for a destination airport (204), historical holding patterns for the destination airport (204), current weather conditions for the destination airport (204), and fuel consumption of the aircraft (102) and historical fuel consumption of at least one other previous aircraft flying in the holding pattern in proximity to the destination airport.
  2. 2. The holding pattern system according to claim 1, further comprising a tracking subsystem (104), the tracking subsystem (104) being configured to track the current air traffic with respect to the destination airport (204), wherein the tracking subsystem (104) sends current air traffic data representing the current air traffic to the holding pattern determination unit (106).
  3. 3. The holding pattern system of claim 2, wherein the tracking subsystem (104) comprises an auto-correlation monitoring-broadcasting ADS-B tracking subsystem.
  4. 4. The flight path holding pattern system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, further comprising a historical holding pattern database (112), the historical holding pattern database (112) storing historical holding pattern data representing the historical holding pattern for the destination airport (204), wherein the holding pattern determination unit (106) communicates with the historical holding pattern database (112).
  5. 5. The flight path holding pattern system according to any one of claims 1-2, further comprising a weather determination subsystem (105), the weather determination subsystem (105) being configured to determine the current weather condition in relation to the destination airport (204), wherein the weather determination subsystem (105) outputs weather data representative of the current weather condition to the holding pattern determination unit (106).
  6. 6. The flight path holding pattern system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the aircraft (102) outputs fuel consumption data representing the fuel consumption to the holding pattern determination unit (106).
  7. 7. The flight path holding pattern system according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the holding pattern determination unit (106) determines one or more of a shape, a duration, and a height of the holding pattern.
  8. 8. The flight path holding pattern system according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the holding pattern determination unit (106) determines a speed at which the aircraft (102) is to fly within the holding pattern.
  9. 9. The flight path holding pattern system according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the holding pattern determination unit (106) determines the holding pattern (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) to efficiently transition the aircraft (102) into a landing approach into the destination airport (204).
  10. 10. The flight path holding pattern system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the holding pattern determination unit (106) changes one or both of a shape and a height of the holding pattern (200, 300, 400, 500, 600).
  11. 11. The flight path holding pattern system according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the holding pattern (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) comprises a plurality of altitudes.
  12. 12. The flight path holding pattern system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the holding pattern determination unit (106) generates the holding pattern (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) after a total time of the holding pattern (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) is determined.
  13. 13. The flight path holding pattern system according to claim 12, further comprising a holding time prediction unit (110), wherein the holding time prediction unit (110) determines the total time of the holding pattern (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) based on one or both of the current air traffic, the historical holding pattern, the current weather condition, and the fuel consumption.
  14. 14. A method of flying path holding pattern, the method comprising: A holding pattern determination unit (106) is used to automatically generate a holding pattern (200, 300, 400, 500, 600) for a destination airport (204) based on at least one of current air traffic for the aircraft (204), a historical holding pattern for the destination airport (204), current weather conditions for the destination airport (204), and fuel consumption of the aircraft (102) and historical fuel consumption of at least one other previous aircraft flying in the holding pattern proximate to the destination airport.
  15. 15. The holding pattern method of claim 14, further comprising: -tracking the current air traffic with respect to the destination airport (204) using a tracking subsystem (104); Current air traffic data representing the current air traffic is sent from the tracking subsystem (104) to the holding pattern determination unit (106).
  16. 16. The flight path holding pattern method according to any one of claims 14 to 15, further comprising storing historical holding pattern data representing the historical holding pattern with respect to the destination airport (204) in a historical holding pattern database (112) communicatively connected to the holding pattern determination unit (106).
  17. 17. The flying path holding pattern method according to any one of claims 14 to 15, further comprising: Determining the current weather condition with respect to the destination airport (204) using a weather determination subsystem (105), and Outputting weather data representing the current weather condition from the weather determination subsystem (105) to the holding pattern determination unit (106).
  18. 18. The holding pattern method according to any one of claims 14 to 15, further comprising outputting fuel consumption data representing the fuel consumption from the aircraft (102) to the holding pattern determination unit (106).

Description

Aircraft flight path holding route system and method The application is a divisional application of an application patent application (application date: 2018, 3, 27 days, application name: an airplane flight path holding route system and method) with an original application number 201810257822.6. Technical Field Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for dynamically determining (e.g., generating, calculating, adapting, and/or the like) a holding pattern (holding patterns) for an aircraft. Background Commercial aircraft are used to transport passengers between locations. Commercial aircraft typically fly according to a predetermined flight plan between the departure airport and the destination airport. The flight plan includes a path from the departure airport to the destination airport and may also include the time of flight between locations. Commercial, commercial and general aviation aircraft may deviate from flight plans for various reasons. For example, inclement weather may cause air traffic controllers to deviate the aircraft from a flight plan. Visibility at destination airports may be limited due to bad weather (such as rain or snow). Thus, the air traffic controller may then determine that the separation time between landing aircraft needs to be increased. As another example, flight congestion at the destination airport may also cause air traffic controllers to deviate the aircraft from the flight plan into a holding pattern. To accommodate landing delays at particular destination airports, whether due to bad weather, flight congestion, and/or the like, the aircraft may be diverted into a holding pattern that deviates from the flight plan. Typically, an air traffic controller verbally communicates with a pilot on an aircraft to notify the pilot of a desired landing delay and instructs the pilot to fly the aircraft in a designated holding pattern until otherwise notified. The air traffic controller communicates details of the holding pattern to the pilot, who then files the aircraft according to the holding pattern. Once the aircraft is transferred into the holding pattern, the pilot is generally unaware of how long the holding pattern will last. Thus, the pilot may periodically contact the air traffic controller to ask when the aircraft will be cleared for landing. The holding pattern is typically a fixed pattern on which the aircraft is flying. The holding pattern may include a route having a plurality of legs and turns, each of which provides a preset distance and time of flight. For example, the holding pattern may resemble a runway having two straight legs connected by two 180 degree turns. An aircraft in a holding pattern flies through each preset leg and turn during a defined period of time. As can be appreciated, the aircraft consumes fuel as it flies from the current location within the holding pattern to the exit waypoint. Furthermore, flying along the set holding pattern increases the total flight time to the designated exit waypoint. Disclosure of Invention There is a need for a system and method for efficiently determining a holding pattern. There is a need for a system and method for updating the pilot of an aircraft about a holding pattern without communicating with an air traffic controller. There is a need for a system and method for dynamically formulating a holding pattern that efficiently transitions an aircraft from a holding pattern to a landing approach. In view of those needs, certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a flight path holding pattern system configured to generate (e.g., determine, calculate, adapt, etc.) an efficient holding pattern for an aircraft. The flight path holding pattern system includes a holding pattern determination unit configured to automatically generate the holding pattern for the aircraft. The holding pattern determination unit automatically generates the holding pattern for the aircraft based on one or more of current air traffic for a destination airport, historical holding patterns for the destination airport, current weather conditions for the destination airport, and fuel consumption of one or both of the aircraft and at least one other aircraft. In at least one embodiment, the flight path holding pattern system includes a tracking subsystem configured to track the current air traffic with respect to the destination airport. The tracking subsystem outputs (e.g., transmits) current air traffic data representing the current air traffic to the holding pattern determination unit. The tracking subsystem may be an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) tracking subsystem. In at least one embodiment, the flight path holding pattern system includes a historical holding pattern database in which historical holding pattern data representing the historical holding pattern for the destination airport is stored. The holding pattern determination unit communicates with the historical holding