Systems and methods for presenting graphical display elements for variable or adaptive aircraft glideslope and safe areas for aircraft operations

1. A method for providing aircraft descent data and approach data onboard an aircraft, the method comprising:

determining a safe descent area bounded by an outer boundary region, by a processor communicatively coupled to a system memory element, based on an optimum glideslope angle, adaptive increased glideslope data, and a continuously monitored boundary exceedance condition;

determining, by the processor, a predictive aircraft descent path trajectory, wherein the predictive aircraft descent path is based on a vertical slope processed based on the optimal glideslope angle, and wherein the continuously monitored boundary exceedance condition is determined based on whether the predictive aircraft descent path trajectory intercepts the outer boundary region;

obtaining, by the processor, a maximum displaced threshold indicating a landing point with a minimum remaining runway length to perform safe stopping of the aircraft based on aircraft weight and environmental factors;

determining the outer boundary region for flight guidance using the maximum displaced threshold for landing, landing characteristics of the aircraft, and a maximum descent angle for the maximum displaced threshold;

obtaining the adaptive increased glideslope data, by the processor, based on a vertical profile processed for a value of the adaptive increased glideslope data;

calculating the predictive aircraft descent path trajectory for flight guidance, by the processor, based on aircraft state parameters comprising at least aircraft ground speed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft category, and altitude;

computing a minimum glideslope boundary and a maximum glideslope boundary, by the processor, based on the adaptive increased glideslope data and the predictive aircraft descent path trajectory; and

presenting graphical elements associated with the safe descent area, the optimum glideslope angle, and the outer boundary region, by a display device communicatively coupled to the processor during an approach procedure performed with the aircraft to provide flight crew members an opportunity to correct a glide path to move the aircraft within the safe descent area or to provide the flight crew members an opportunity to declare a missed approach go-around due to unstable approach conditions,

wherein the safe descent area comprises the minimum glideslope boundary and the maximum glideslope boundary.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining user input selection data from a flight management system (FMS) onboard the aircraft, by the processor via a communication device configured to establish communication connections between the processor and the FMS, wherein the user input selection data includes an instruction to disengage managed vertical guidance and to engage approach mode; and

computing the safe descent area and the outer boundary region, by the processor, based on the approach mode.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

computing a predictive interception of the adaptive increased glideslope data with the minimum glideslope boundary and the maximum glideslope boundary, by the processor;

wherein the outer boundary region is based on the predictive interception of the adaptive increased glideslope data with the minimum glideslope boundary and the maximum glideslope boundary.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the value of the adaptive increased glideslope data is a tuned value.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the value of the adaptive increased glideslope data is a pilot-entered value; and

the predictive aircraft descent path trajectory for flight guidance is obtained via a flight management system (FMS) and by the processor.

6. A system for providing aircraft descent data and approach data onboard an aircraft, the system comprising:

a system memory element;

a communication device configured to establish communication connections to a flight management system (FMS) and avionics systems onboard the aircraft;

a display device, configured to present descent path data onboard the aircraft; and

at least one processor communicatively coupled to the system memory element, the communication device, and the display device, the at least one processor configured to:

determine a safe descent area bounded by an outer boundary region, based on an optimum glideslope angle, adaptive increased glideslope data, and a continuously monitored boundary exceedance condition;

determine a predictive aircraft descent path trajectory based on a vertical slope processed based on the optimal glideslope angle, wherein the continuously monitored boundary exceedance condition is determined based on whether the predictive aircraft descent trajectory path intercepts the outer boundary region;

obtain a maximum displaced threshold indicating a landing point with a minimum remaining runway length to perform safe stopping of the aircraft based on aircraft weight and environmental factors;

determine the outer boundary region for flight guidance using the maximum displaced threshold for landing, landing characteristics of the aircraft, and a maximum descent angle for the maximum displaced threshold;

obtain the adaptive increased glideslope data, by the processor, based on a vertical profile processed for a value of the adaptive increased glideslope data;

calculate the predictive aircraft descent path trajectory for flight guidance, by the processor, based on aircraft state parameters comprising at least aircraft ground speed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft category, and altitude;

compute a minimum glideslope boundary and a maximum glideslope boundary, by the processor, based on the adaptive increased glideslope data and the predictive aircraft descent path trajectory; and

present graphical elements associated with the safe descent area, the optimum glideslope angle, and the outer boundary region, via the display device during an approach procedure performed with the aircraft to provide flight crew members an opportunity to correct a glide path to move the aircraft within the safe descent area or to provide the flight crew members an opportunity to declare a missed approach go-around due to unstable approach conditions.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

obtain user input selection data from the FMS, via the communication device, wherein the user input selection data includes an instruction to disengage managed vertical guidance and to engage approach mode; and

compute the safe descent area and the outer boundary region, based on the approach mode.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

compute a predictive interception of the adaptive increased glideslope data with the minimum glideslope boundary and the maximum glideslope boundary;

wherein the outer boundary region is based on the predictive interception of the adaptive increased glideslope data with the minimum glideslope boundary and the maximum glideslope boundary.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein:

the value of the adaptive increased glideslope data is a tuned value.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein:

the value of the adaptive increased glideslope data is a pilot-entered value; and

the predictive aircraft descent path trajectory for flight guidance is obtained via the FMS and by the processor.

11. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium containing instructions thereon, which, when executed by a processor, perform a method for providing aircraft descent data and approach data onboard an aircraft, the method comprising:

obtaining user input selection data from a flight management system (FMS) onboard the aircraft, by the processor via a communication device configured to establish communication connections between the processor and the FMS, wherein the user input selection data includes an instruction to disengage managed vertical guidance and to engage approach mode;

initiating computation of a safe descent area, when the approach mode is engaged;

determining the safe descent area bounded by an outer boundary region, by the processor, based on an optimum glideslope angle, adaptive increased glideslope data, and a continuously monitored boundary exceedance condition;

determining a predictive aircraft descent path trajectory, wherein the predictive aircraft descent path trajectory is based on a vertical slope processed based on the optimal glideslope angle, and wherein the continuously monitored boundary exceedance condition is determined based on whether the predictive aircraft descent path trajectory intercepts the outer boundary region;

obtaining, by the processor, a maximum displaced threshold indicating a landing point with a minimum remaining runway length to perform safe stopping of the aircraft based on aircraft weight and environmental factors;

determining the outer boundary region for flight guidance using the maximum displaced threshold for landing, landing characteristics of the aircraft, and a maximum descent angle for the maximum displaced threshold;

obtaining the adaptive increased glideslope data, by the processor, based on a vertical profile processed for a value of the adaptive increased glideslope data;

calculating the predictive aircraft descent path trajectory for flight guidance, by the processor, based on aircraft state parameters comprising at least aircraft ground speed, aircraft vertical speed, aircraft category, and altitude;

computing a minimum glideslope boundary and a maximum glideslope boundary, by the processor, based on the adaptive increased glideslope data and the predictive aircraft descent path trajectory; and

presenting graphical elements associated with the safe descent area, the optimum glideslope angle, and the outer boundary region, by a display device communicatively coupled to the processor during an approach procedure performed with the aircraft to provide flight crew members an opportunity to correct a glide path to move the aircraft within the safe descent area or to provide the flight crew members an opportunity to declare a missed approach go-around due to unstable approach conditions.

12. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:

computing a predictive interception of the adaptive increased glideslope data with the minimum glideslope boundary and the maximum glideslope boundary, by the processor;

wherein the outer boundary region is based on the predictive interception of the adaptive increased glideslope data with the minimum glideslope boundary and the maximum glideslope boundary.

13. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein:

the value of the adaptive increased glideslope data is a tuned value.

14. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein:

the value of the adaptive increased glideslope data is a pilot-entered value; and

the predictive aircraft descent path trajectory for flight guidance is obtained via the FMS and by the processor.