Airplane anti-hijacking system

• US 10,040,574 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2016
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jr., James William Laske
• Original Assignee: Jr., James William Laske
• Inventors: Laske, Jr., James William
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Mia M
• Application Number:
  US15/138,352
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/04 actuated personally
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/0423 yokes or steering wheels for primary flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0031 means for overriding or restricting access to flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0051 by monitoring passengers or crew on aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0056 detecting passenger or crew behavior by sensors, e.g. biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/13 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

The airplane anti-hijacking system is an access control, alarm, and lockout system that is installed on commercial aircraft for the purpose of preventing unauthorized persons from taking control of the aircraft. The airplane anti-hijacking system is a biometric system that authenticates the identity of the flight crew and automatically monitors the flight operation for anomalies. Should an anomaly occur in-flight, an emergency message is sent via satellite to the appropriate authorities. Upon receipt of an emergency message, airplane anti-hijacking system gives the appropriate authorities the ability to seize control of the aircraft by locking out in-flight control of the operation of the flight controls and operating the aircraft remotely. The airplane anti-hijacking system further comprises a craft control module and a plurality of biometric scanners.

Claims

1. A security system comprising:

a craft control module and a plurality of biometric scanners;

wherein the security system is adapted for use with an aircraft;

wherein the security system is adapted to work with a ground control module;

wherein the security system communicates to the ground control module through a satellite link;

wherein the security system prevents inappropriate persons from gaining control of the aircraft while in-flight;

wherein the security system authenticates the identity of each member of a flight crew before the flight begins operation;

wherein the security system authenticates the identity of the cockpit crew during flight operation;

wherein the security system locks out in-flight operational control of an aircraft when a security breech has been detected;

wherein the security system turns control of the aircraft over to the ground control module when a security breech has been detected;

wherein the plurality of biometric scanners further comprises a first biometric scanner, a second biometric scanner, and a third biometric scanner;

wherein the craft control module further comprises, craft control interface, and a GPS module, a GPWS module, a pilot indicator light, and a copilot indicator light.

2. The security system according to claim 1 wherein the first biometric scanner is a biometric keypad.

3. The security system according to claim 2 wherein the first biometric scanner collects a personal identification code and biometric identification information from the first biometric scanner.

4. The security system according to claim 3 wherein

the craft control module further comprises a logic module;

wherein the first biometric scanner forwards the personal identification code and biometric identification information to the logic module.

5. The security system according to claim 4 wherein the logic module stores the biometric identification information of the cockpit crew for the duration of the flight.

6. The security system according to claim 5 wherein

the craft control module further comprises a satellite communication module;

wherein the logic module then uses the satellite communication module to forward the personal identification code as well as the biometric identification information from the first biometric scanner to the ground control module.

7. The security system according to claim 6 wherein

the ground control module further comprises an authentication database;

wherein the ground control module uses the authentication database to validate the personal identification code as well as the biometric identification information from the first biometric scanner received from the logic module.

8. The security system according to claim 7 wherein a pilot yolk is fitted with the second biometric scanner.

9. The security system according to claim 8 wherein the second biometric scanner is located on the left hand grip of the pilot yolk.

10. The security system according to claim 8 wherein a copilot yolk is fitted with the third biometric scanner.

11. The security system according to claim 10 wherein the third biometric scanner is located on the right hand grip of the copilot yolk.

12. The security system according to claim 10 wherein the pilot and copilot reconfirm their identities using the second biometric scanner and the third biometric scanner, respectively.

13. The security system according to claim 12 wherein the logic module authenticates the identity of the pilot and the copilot using the identifying information collected when the flight crew initially authenticated their presence on the aircraft.

14. The security system according to claim 13 wherein the logic module will repeatedly require biometric reauthorization from both the pilot and copilot through the course of the flight.

15. The security system according to claim 14 wherein

the pilot yolk further comprises a pilot indicator light;

wherein the logic module requests reauthorization from the pilot through signals sent through the pilot indicator light.

16. The security system according to claim 15 wherein

the copilot yolk further comprises a copilot indicator light;

wherein the logic module requests reauthorization from the copilot through signals sent through the copilot indicator light.

17. The security system according to claim 16 wherein

the pilot indicator light further comprises a first green LED and a first red LED;

wherein the copilot indicator light further comprises a second green LED and a second red LED;

wherein should a pilot or copilot fail biometric

authorization;

a lockout function is initiated;

wherein should both the first red LED and the second red LED be illuminated the lockout function is initiated;

wherein should a member of the flight crew authenticate;

using the first biometric scanner during flight operation the lockout function will be initiated;

wherein the lockout function disables in-flight control of the aircraft;

wherein the lockout function increases the aircraft altitude to the enroute minimum altitude should the aircraft be below the enroute minimum altitude;

wherein the lockout function turns control of the aircraft over to the ground control module.

18. The security system according to claim 17 wherein the logic module is wired to an auxiliary sensor that includes either or both an RF sensor or an explosive materials sensor;

wherein the auxiliary sensor provides the logic module with data pertaining to a detection of any hazardous or explosive materials.