Determine circuit properties for arrival

[corstian]

Currently only arrival and departure runway headings are available. Modify the flight processing logic in such way that;

• The circuit direction is known (left hand or right hand)
• Downwind can be recognized
• Base can be recognized
• Final can be recognized

Nice to have would be to recognize the entry point of the circuit.

Methodology

In order to properly detect circuit movements, define a certain amount of space as circuit area;

• 75% of the runway length at both ends
• 50% of the runway length at the sides
• 1000ft AGL

Aircraft in this box qualify for landing. In order to detect the shape of the circuit, the flight track should be radically simplified in a way that we can easily extract the heading. Shape simplification should happen based on the turn rates. With peak detection turns can be recognized, and should be used as anchor points to draw a single line.

Information requirements

The information we want to extract is as follows;

• An event whenever an aircraft joins the circuit
• The direction and phase on the approach
• Time based anchors for circuit phases