Method and device for automatically managing the separation between two aircraft following one another

摘要

The invention relates to a method and device for automatically managing the separation between two aircraft following one another. The device (1) comprises a means (6, 7) for automatically calculating, prior to performing a function to acquire and maintain separation, orders for controlling speed that enable a trailing aircraft to acquire and maintain a time separation relative to a target aircraft preceding the former.

主权项

1. A method for automatically managing separation of an aircraft called the referent aircraft following behind along a same flight path at least one other aircraft called the target aircraft during one of a cruise phase or a landing approach phase, the method including a principal function that is implemented comprising an acquire and maintain function which makes it possible to automatically acquire a time separation (T) between the referent aircraft and the target aircraft and maintain the time separation (T) while following along said same flight path, the method comprising:
performing, on a system including a processor and a storage unit installed on the referent aircraft, operations comprising:
A) even before starting of the acquire and maintain function of said principal function, automatically:
a) determining a prior movement comprising real position and speed of the target aircraft along said same flight path, over a time period of N seconds immediately prior to the current time by storing successive real positions and speeds of the target aircraft along said same flight path over said time period immediately prior to the current time, said time period being longer than said time separation (T) and storing said prior movement in the storage unit;b) calculating, by a processor, using said prior movement, speed control orders allowing the referent aircraft, when said speed control orders are applied thereto, to start the acquire and maintain function so as to achieve acquisition of said time separation (T) with respect to the target aircraft, the time separation (T) relating to the referent aircraft following behind the target aircraft along said same flight path; andc) calculating, by a processor, the time necessary for carrying out said acquisition on the basis of the knowledge of the commanded speed according to said speed control orders, said necessary time being transmitted to a display unit; andB) applying to the referent aircraft, from the start of said acquire and maintain function, the speed control orders thus calculated so that the referent aircraft at least acquires said time separation (T).