PROCEDE DE GENERATION D'UNE TRAJECTOIRE HORIZONTALE POUR UN AERONEF ENTRE DEUX BUTS CONTRAINTS EN ROUTE

This method meets the constraints dictated by the instructed values of turning radius and by the instructed values of direction of approach in terms of route or course to be maintained at the obligatory points of passage. It includes, at the obligatory starting and arrival points of passage, in determining the turning paths that meet the instructed turning radius at these points. These turning paths are located, at each of the obligatory points of passage, on a pair of circles that are tangential to the points of passage, according to the instructed direction of approach valid at this point and oriented in this direction. Once these turning paths have been determined, a selection is made, from among them, according to simple rules, of an initial homing turning path and a final capture path that can be connected by a rectilinear linking path to go from the obligatory starting point of passage to the obligatory arrival point of passage while seeking the shortest possible distance of travel. This method is advantageous because it requires only low computation capacity and can be implemented by the flight management systems with which the present generation of aircraft are fitted out. It also provides for the precise and constantly updated pre-setting of the route followed by the aircraft during a mission, taking account of the obligatory points of passage, and hence for precise estimates of the scheduling of the mission and of the quantity of fuel needed for the mission.