REAL-TIME AUTOMATED METHOD AND SYSTEM ENABLING CONTINUOUS SUPERSONIC FLIGHT WHILE PREVENTING GROUND LEVEL SONIC BOOM

1 . A method for determining a Mach cutoff flight profile for an aircraft, the method comprising:

receiving data representative of a flight origination and a flight destination;

receiving an initial atmospheric profile forecast;

receiving user preferences on flight parameters to be optimized;

computing a user cost function;

determining a flight profile which implements Mach cutoff;

engaging an autopilot to implement the flight profile;

receiving updates on the atmospheric profile forecast;

determining potential sonic boom incidents on a periodic basis;

determining one or more sonic boom avoidance modifications to the flight profile that will avoid sonic boom incidents and not exceed the user cost function if potential sonic boom incidents are determined;

presenting one or more sonic boom avoidance modifications to the flight profile to a pilot of the aircraft if potential sonic boom incidents are determined;

receiving selection of one of the sonic boom avoidance modifications to the flight profile if potential sonic boom incidents are determined; and

updating the flight profile with the selected sonic boom avoidance modification if potential sonic boom incidents are determined.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising

determining one or more optimized modifications to the flight profile to lower the user cost function if no potential sonic boom incidents are determined;

presenting one or more optimized modifications to the flight profile to the pilot if no potential sonic boom incidents are determined;

receiving selection of one of the optimized modifications to the flight profile if no potential sonic boom incidents are determined; and

updating the flight profile with the optimized modification if no potential sonic boom incidents are determined.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the flight profile includes an aircraft speed profile, an aircraft altitude profile, and an aircraft route and the optimized modifications to the flight profile include modifications to the aircraft speed profile, the aircraft altitude profile, the aircraft route, or combinations thereof.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving terrain data and receiving information governing restricted operations.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the flight profile includes an aircraft speed profile, an aircraft altitude profile, and an aircraft route.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the aircraft speed profile includes a value of a speed of the aircraft which varies according to a location of the aircraft along the aircraft route, and the aircraft altitude profile includes a value of an altitude of the aircraft which varies according to a location of the aircraft along the aircraft route.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the sonic boom avoidance modifications to the flight profile include modifications to the aircraft speed profile, the aircraft altitude profile, the aircraft route, or combinations thereof.

8 . A method for determining a Mach cutoff flight profile for an aircraft, the method comprising:

receiving data representative of a flight origination and a flight destination;

receiving an initial atmospheric profile forecast;

receiving terrain data;

receiving information governing restricted operations;

receiving user preferences on flight parameters to be optimized;

computing a user cost function;

determining a flight profile which implements Mach cutoff;

engaging an autopilot to implement the flight profile;

receiving updates on the atmospheric profile forecast;

determining potential sonic boom incidents on a periodic basis;

determining one or more optimized modifications to the flight profile to lower the user cost function if no potential sonic boom incidents are determined;

presenting one or more optimized modifications to the flight profile to the pilot if no potential sonic boom incidents are determined;

receiving selection of one of the optimized modifications to the flight profile if no potential sonic boom incidents are determined; and

updating the flight profile with the optimized modification if no potential sonic boom incidents are determined.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the flight profile includes an aircraft speed profile, an aircraft altitude profile, and an aircraft route.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the aircraft speed profile includes a value of a speed of the aircraft which varies according to a location of the aircraft along the aircraft route.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the aircraft altitude profile includes a value of an altitude of the aircraft which varies according to a location of the aircraft along the aircraft route.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the optimized modifications to the flight profile include modifications to the aircraft speed profile, the aircraft altitude profile, the aircraft route, or combinations thereof.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

determining one or more sonic boom avoidance modifications to the flight profile that will avoid sonic boom incidents and not exceed the user cost function if potential sonic boom incidents are determined;

presenting one or more sonic boom avoidance modifications to the flight profile to a pilot of the aircraft if potential sonic boom incidents are determined;

receiving selection of one of the sonic boom avoidance modifications to the flight profile if potential sonic boom incidents are determined; and

updating the flight profile with the selected sonic boom avoidance modification if potential sonic boom incidents are determined,

wherein the sonic boom avoidance modifications to the flight profile include modifications to the aircraft speed profile, the aircraft altitude profile, the aircraft route, or combinations thereof.

14 . A system for determining a Mach cutoff flight profile for an aircraft, the system comprising:

a display configured to present information about a flight profile;

a user interface configured to receive input from a pilot and/or co-pilot;

an aircraft system configured to control the operation of aircraft mechanical systems and subsystems and to operate an autopilot; and

a processing element configured or programmed to:

receive data representative of a flight origination and a flight destination,

receive an initial atmospheric profile forecast,

receive user preferences on flight parameters to be optimized,

compute a user cost function,

determine a flight profile which implements Mach cutoff,

communicate the flight profile to the aircraft system to engage an autopilot,

receive updates on the atmospheric profile forecast,

determine potential sonic boom incidents on a periodic basis,

determine one or more sonic boom avoidance modifications to the flight profile that will avoid sonic boom incidents and not exceed the user cost function if potential sonic boom incidents are determined,

present one or more sonic boom avoidance modifications to the flight profile to a pilot of the aircraft if potential sonic boom incidents are determined,

receive selection of one of the sonic boom avoidance modifications to the flight profile if potential sonic boom incidents are determined, and

update the flight profile with the selected sonic boom avoidance modification if potential sonic boom incidents are determined.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the processing element is further configured or programmed to:

determine one or more optimized modifications to the flight profile to lower the user cost function if no potential sonic boom incidents are determined,

present one or more optimized modifications to the flight profile to the pilot if no potential sonic boom incidents are determined,

receive selection of one of the optimized modifications to the flight profile if no potential sonic boom incidents are determined, and

update the flight profile with the optimized modification if no potential sonic boom incidents are determined.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the flight profile includes an aircraft speed profile, an aircraft altitude profile, and an aircraft route and the optimized modifications to the flight profile include modifications to the aircraft speed profile, the aircraft altitude profile, the aircraft route, or combinations thereof.

17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the processing element is further configured or programmed to receive terrain data and receive information governing restricted operations.

18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the flight profile includes an aircraft speed profile, an aircraft altitude profile, and an aircraft route.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the aircraft speed profile includes a value of a speed of the aircraft which varies according to a location of the aircraft along the aircraft route, and the aircraft altitude profile includes a value of an altitude of the aircraft which varies according to a location of the aircraft along the aircraft route.

20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the sonic boom avoidance modifications to the flight profile include modifications to the aircraft speed profile, the aircraft altitude profile, the aircraft route, or combinations thereof.