Method and system for determining a descent profile

1. A method of determining a descent profile, the method comprising:

receiving, at a controller module, a final model of performance characteristics for an aircraft at a final approach fix for a target destination;

determining, by the controller module, a first aircraft energy level of the final model, the first aircraft energy level defining a combined kinetic and potential energy of the aircraft at the final model;

repeatedly back-calculating, by the controller module, a set of subsequent models based on successively larger aircraft energy levels, wherein each successive back-calculating determines a variable thrust parameter value of the respective subsequent model based on a minimizing cost profile;

determining a descent profile based on the repeated back-calculating the set of subsequent models;

determining an estimated descent profile aircraft weight at an initial descent point based on the determined descent profile, the set of variable thrust parameter values, an estimated horizontal distance of the determined descent profile, and an estimated final approach aircraft weight of the final model;

determining an estimated flight plan aircraft weight at the initial descent point based on a current flight plan of the aircraft;

comparing the estimated flight plan aircraft weight with the estimated descent profile aircraft weight;

upon satisfaction of the comparing, updating the estimated final approach aircraft weight of the final model, and repeating the determining the first aircraft energy level and repeatedly back-calculating the set of subsequent models; and

operating the aircraft in accordance with the determined descent profile.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein repeatedly back-calculating the set of subsequent model includes stepping upwards along a descent trajectory in each repeated back-calculating.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the variable thrust parameter value is different from an idle thrust value.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein repeatedly back-calculating the set of subsequent models further comprises repeatedly back-calculating until the aircraft energy level reaches a cruising altitude for the aircraft.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the cruising altitude for the aircraft is at least one of a current or estimated cruising altitude for the aircraft.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the minimizing cost profile is based on minimizing fuel consumption at each subsequent model.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the final model of performance characteristics for the aircraft at the final approach fix for the target destination includes receiving at least a subset of: a final approach speed, a final approach altitude, and a final approach distance relative to the target destination.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein receiving the final model includes receiving a predetermined set of performance characteristics for the target destination from a final approach fix database.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein repeatedly back-calculating the set of subsequent models based on successively larger aircraft energy levels further comprises determining an estimated airspeed and an estimated altitude of the aircraft based on the immediately preceding model.

10. A system for determining a descent profile, the system comprising:

memory storing aircraft performance characteristics of a final approach fix for a target destination and a minimizing cost profile;

a controller module configured to:

receive the performance characteristics and minimizing cost profile from the memory;

determine a first aircraft energy level based on the performance characteristics of the aircraft at the final approach fix, the aircraft energy level defining a combined kinetic and potential energy of the aircraft;

repeatedly back-calculate a set of subsequent aircraft performance models, to determine a descent profile based on the repeated back-calculating the set of subsequent models;

determine an estimated descent profile aircraft weight at an initial descent point based on the determined descent profile, the set of variable thrust parameter values, an estimated horizontal distance of the determined descent profile, and an estimated final approach aircraft weight of the final model;

determine an estimated flight plan aircraft weight at the initial descent point based on a current flight plan of the aircraft;

compare the estimated flight plan aircraft weight with the estimated descent profile aircraft weight;

upon satisfaction of the comparing, update the estimated final approach aircraft weight of the final model, and repeating the determining the first aircraft energy level and repeatedly back-calculating the set of subsequent models; and

provide the descent profile to a flight controller to operate the aircraft in accordance with the descent profile.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a flight management system.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the controller module is further configured to repeatedly back-calculate the set of subsequent models by stepping upwards along a descent trajectory in each repeated back-calculation.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the minimizing cost profile is based on minimizing fuel consumption at each subsequent model.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the controller module is further configured to repeatedly back-calculate the set of subsequent models based on successively larger aircraft energy levels and determine an estimated airspeed and an estimated altitude of the aircraft based on the immediately preceding model.