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The Control of Inbound Flights

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 October 2009

André Benoît  and
Sip Swierstra
André Benoît
Affiliation:
(Eurocontrol)
Sip Swierstra
Affiliation:
(Eurocontrol)
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Abstract

This paper describes the basic principles of a method developed to guide aircraft accurately down to the runway in a time-of-arrival constrained environment. The method is designed to be used in a ‘zone of convergence’ context or in any similar advanced air traffic control system characterized by the integration of control phases over an extended area on the one hand and true ‘computer assistance’ to the air traffic controller on the other; that is, assistance provided at the decision-making level through the automatic generation of guidance advisories.

The method includes two closely-coupled basic components; namely, a ‘predictor’, which computes a trajectory once initial conditions and plans are known, and a ‘profile manager’, which adapts the plans to meet the time constraints and generates the guidance directives on the basis of present position, actual surveillance information, aircraft operation and route constraints.

Keywords

1. Air traffic control.2. Communications.3. Expert systems.
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Navigation , Volume 44 , Issue 1 , January 1991 , pp. 85 - 96
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Institute of Navigation 1991

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References

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