SPEED-CONSTRAINED FLIGHT MANAGEMENT METHODS AND SYSTEMS

Systems and methods are provided for managing speed-constrained vehicle operations. One exemplary method of operating an aircraft (120) involves identifying a speed constraint (304) associated with a navigational reference point, determining a speed envelope region (302) en route to the navigational reference point based at least in part on the first speed constraint (304), identifying a target speed en route to the navigational reference point, and determining a speed profile (350) for autonomously operations en route to the navigational reference point within the speed envelope region (302). The speed profile (350) intersects the target speed within the speed envelope region (302) and a slope of the speed profile (350) is influenced by the target speed, for example, to effectuate or approximate the target speed by increasing the duration of time operation at or around the target speed is achieved. In one or more embodiments, multiple different target speeds associated with different flight levels or operating regions are accounted for.