TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to aircraft systems that support flight plan modifications, and more particularly relates to aircraft systems and methods for modifying a flight plan to implement a micro-shortcut.

BACKGROUND

There is a direct relationship between the distance traveled along a flight plan and the fuel consumed for the flight. Therefore, if any shortcuts can be implemented along the flight plan, fuel may be conserved.

However, there can be many technical problems with respect to implementing shortcuts. First, there may be a corridor that the aircraft must stay within. In some examples, the corridor the aircraft must stay within is a RNAV 5 (area navigation five nautical miles on either side of the flight plan) corridor; it can also be a RNAV 10 (area navigation ten nautical miles on either side of the flight plan) corridor, a +/−3 mile corridor, a +/−4 mile corridor, and etc. Additionally, in many populous areas, the respective air traffic control (ATC) authority may determine that the traffic is too dense to accommodate a deviation from the flight plan.

Accordingly, improved aircraft systems and methods that provide technical solutions for modifying flight plans to implement micro-shortcuts, defined as shortcuts that do not exceed RNAV 5 boundaries, are desirable. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will be apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

BRIEF SUMMARY

This summary is provided to describe selected concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Provided is a method for flight plan modification in an aircraft. The method includes: determining, by a processing system comprising a processor and a memory device, that the aircraft is operating on a flight plan; identifying a segment of interest within the flight plan; determining a geographical environment associated with the segment of interest; determining, by the processing system, a relevant air traffic control (ATC) for the geographical environment; requesting, from the relevant ATC, an amount of deviation from the flight plan for the segment of interest; obtaining, from the relevant ATC, permission for the amount of deviation from the flight plan for the segment of interest; using at least the amount of deviation to calculate a shortest path for the segment of interest, wherein the shortest path is an air distance; and modifying the flight plan for the segment of interest such that the aircraft flies the shortest path for the segment of interest.

A system for flight plan modification on-board an aircraft is provided. The system includes: a navigation system; and a processing system coupled to the navigation system and programmed to determine that the aircraft is operating on an initial flight plan; identify a segment of interest within the initial flight plan; determine a geographical environment associated with the segment of interest; determine a relevant air traffic control (ATC) for the geographical environment; request, from the relevant ATC, an amount of deviation from the initial flight plan for the segment of interest; obtain, from the relevant ATC, permission for the amount of deviation from the initial flight plan for the segment of interest; use at least the amount of deviation to calculate a shortest path for the segment of interest, wherein the shortest path is an air distance; and modify the initial flight plan for the segment of interest such that the aircraft flies the shortest path for the segment of interest.

Also provided is an aircraft system on-board an aircraft. The aircraft system includes: a navigation system; a flight management system (FMS); and a processing system coupled to the navigation system and FMS, the processing system configured to: determine that the aircraft is operating on an initial flight plan; identify a segment of interest within the initial flight plan; determine a geographical environment associated with the segment of interest; determine a relevant air traffic control (ATC) for the geographical environment; request, from the relevant ATC, an amount of deviation from the initial flight plan for the segment of interest; obtain, from the relevant ATC, permission for the amount of deviation from the initial flight plan for the segment of interest; use at least the amount of deviation to calculate a shortest path for the segment of interest; and modify the initial flight plan for the segment of interest; and command the FMS to fly the shortest path for the segment of interest.

Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the [system/method] will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the preceding background.

