Abstract:
In one embodiment, a system to enhance in-flight controlled rest for a flight crew includes a pilot user interface, a co-pilot user interface, and a flight crew monitoring system. The flight crew monitoring system is configured to: (i) determine a physiological state of both a pilot and a co-pilot, (ii) selectively generate one or more alerts for the pilot and/or the co-pilot based on the determined physiological state, (iii) inhibit generating the one or more alerts for the pilot upon receipt of a first inhibit signal from the pilot user interface, (iv) inhibit generating the one or more alerts for the co-pilot upon receipt of a second inhibit signal from the co-pilot user interface, and (v) generate and store data indicating a time of day and a duration that the one or more alerts for the pilot or co-pilot, respectively, were inhibited.
Abstract:
Runway awareness and advisory systems (RAAS) and methods are provided for an aircraft. A variety of alerts can be provided based on integrating FMS data with the RAAS systems.
Abstract:
Aircraft display systems and methods. Flight data is received from a Flight Management System (FMS) or other flight data source. A map display is generated based on the flight data including a depiction of a flight path and a plurality of waypoints or other fixes. A user selection of one of the waypoints or other fixes is received. An edit dialog box is generated. A value for a constraint or condition for the selected one of the waypoints or fixes is entered in the edit dialog box display by the user via a user interface device. The value for the constraint or condition is applied to the selected one of the waypoints or fixes via the FMS or other flight data source. The map display is generated including the depiction of the flight path and the plurality of waypoints or fixes. An icon is tagged to the selected one of the waypoints or fixes. The icon denotes an existence of the constraint or condition and a type of the constraint or condition. A constraint or condition dialog box is generated providing further information on the constraint or condition, in response to the user selecting the icon using the user interface device.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for receiving and processing weather data and flight plan data is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first display, an input unit, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive flight plan data and weather data, and to determine, based on the weather data, which weather characteristics is located within a predetermined range of a predetermined flight altitude value. The processor is further configured to instruct the first display to display those weather data which are located within the predetermined range above and below the input flight altitude value together with the flight plan data, and to instruct the first display to additionally display at least one element of the group consisting of the elements: strategic information weather, uplink weather, weather information from external weather data provider, onboard weather radar information, notice to airmen, aeronautical information service data, terminal area forecast, air-traffic related information.
Abstract:
An enhanced flight control system and method providing a technological improvement over a conventional flight control systems. A control module employs rules to determine whether or not a received traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) evasive maneuver is automatically implemented. Specifically, the control module effectively couples the TCAS to the FMS, allowing access to the flight plan and to the navigation database and the approach procedures and runway data therein. An algorithm determines when there is a co-occurrence of the conditions (1) a flight plan uploaded in the FMS, (2) autopilot is engaged, (3) VNAV is engaged. Upon co-occurrence of (1) and (2) and (3), and an evasive maneuver is received from a TCAS, the control module determines whether or not to automatically implement the evasive maneuver. Look ahead algorithms may also analyse and modify the flight plan to preclude TCAS alerts and evasive procedures being required.
Abstract:
A system for providing visual cues to flight crew on multiple displays during an approach is provided. The system is configured to: position, on a synthetic vision system (SVS) and/or head-up display (HUD), one or more traffic icons each representative of a lead aircraft ahead of the ownship; designate a lead aircraft as traffic to follow (TTF) via selection of a first traffic icon representative of one lead aircraft displayed on a navigation display and via selection of a second traffic icon representative of the same lead aircraft displayed on the SVS, wherein selection of either the first traffic icon or the second traffic icon results in designation of the selected lead aircraft as TTF and results in both the first traffic icon and the second traffic icon to more visually stand out; and position, on a horizontal situation indicator, a third TTF icon representative of the lead aircraft when a TTF has been designated.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for aiding in pilot awareness of obstacles relative to aircraft features. An exemplary processor receives sensor information from one or more sensors mounted in an aircraft feature (e.g. light modules), determines if at least one obstacle is located within a predefined field of view based on the received sensor or database information and generates an image. The image includes an ownship icon having at least one feature representing wingtips of the aircraft and at least one indicator associated with the determined at least one obstacle. A display device presents the generated image. The display device presents a tip of a first sense coverage area adjacent to one wingtip feature associated with the port wing and a tip of the second sense coverage area adjacent to one wingtip feature associated with the starboard wing. The indicator is presented within at least one of the coverage areas.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for receiving and processing weather data and flight plan data is disclosed. The apparatus includes a first display, an input unit, and a processor. The processor is configured to receive flight plan data and weather data, and to determine, based on the weather data, which weather characteristics is located within a predetermined range of a predetermined flight altitude value. The processor is further configured to instruct the first display to display those weather data which are located within the predetermined range above and below the input flight altitude value together with the flight plan data, and to instruct the first display to additionally display at least one element of the group consisting of the elements: strategic information weather, uplink weather, weather information from external weather data provider, onboard weather radar information, notice to airmen, aeronautical information service data, terminal area forecast, air-traffic related information.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus is provided for enhancing situational awareness onboard an aircraft during an aircraft ground maneuver such as when taxiing on a runway or taxiway. A three-dimensional view including airport features is rendered in a first airport region that extends a first predetermined distance (D1) from the aircraft when the aircraft speed is less than a predetermined speed (V1). A three-dimensional view including airport features in a second airport region is rendered that extends beyond D1 when the aircraft speed exceeds V1.
Abstract:
This disclosure is directed to methods, systems, and computer program products for automated avoidance of ground threats by an aircraft. In one example, a method includes determining, by one or more processing devices, whether a sufficient evasive maneuver for an aircraft to avoid a detected ground surface threat is performed via pilot controls of the aircraft within a selected threshold after an alert of the ground surface threat is outputted via one or more cockpit systems of the aircraft. The method further includes, in response to determining that a sufficient evasive maneuver via the pilot controls is not performed within the selected threshold, controlling, by the one or more processing devices, one or more flight systems of the aircraft to perform an automated evasive maneuver to avoid the ground surface threat.