Method and system for autoflight information display

• US 20030229426A1
• Filed: 06/07/2002
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Mumaw, Randall J., Griffin, John C. III
• Granted Patent: US 6,745,113 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/04 using a separate indicating element for each variable

Abstract

A method and system for autoflight information display. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes determining if an automatic aircraft controller is controlling an aircraft function based at least in part on a target aircraft speed. If so, the method further includes displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the automatic aircraft controller at a first location of a display medium. If not, the method further includes displaying the alphanumeric information at a second location of the display medium different than the first location. The first location can be aligned with a display of the aircraft speed, and the second location can be aligned with a display of the aircraft altitude. In another embodiment of the invention, engine control information can be integrated with a display of aircraft autopilot and/or autothrottle information.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying information corresponding to the operation of an automatic aircraft controller, comprising:

if the automatic aircraft controller is controlling an aircraft function based at least in part on a target aircraft speed, displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the automatic aircraft controller at a first location of a display medium; and

if the automatic aircraft controller is not controlling the aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying the alphanumeric information at a second location of the display medium different than the first location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the alphanumeric information at the second location of the display medium includes displaying the alphanumeric information at the second location if the automatic aircraft controller controls the aircraft function based at least in part on a target aircraft altitude and/or a target aircraft altitude change rate.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium;

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of a display medium different than the first region of the display medium; and

wherein displaying the alphanumeric information at the first location includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric information at least proximate to the first region of the display medium and wherein displaying the alphanumeric information at the second location includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric information at least proximate to the second region of the display medium.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium, the first region being elongated along an axis, and wherein displaying the alphanumeric information includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric information aligned with the longitudinal axis.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatic aircraft controller includes an aircraft autopilot configured to control aircraft pitch, and wherein displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the automatic aircraft controller includes displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the aircraft autopilot.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatic aircraft controller includes an aircraft autothrottle configured to control aircraft engine thrust, and wherein displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the automatic aircraft controller includes displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the aircraft autothrottle.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatic aircraft controller includes at least one of an aircraft autopilot and an aircraft autothrottle, and wherein the at least one of the aircraft autopilot and the aircraft autothrottle operates according to a plurality of predetermined modes, further wherein displaying alphanumeric information includes displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to an identity of at least one of the modes.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium, and displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric information above the first region of the display medium.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying alphanumeric information having a first content when the automatic aircraft controller is controlling an aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed; and

when the automatic aircraft controller is not controlling the aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, ceasing to display the first content and displaying alphanumeric information having a second content different than the first content.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of a display medium elongated along a first axis;

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium and elongated along a second axis spaced apart from the first axis;

wherein displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric information include s displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric information above the first region and aligned with the first axis when the automatic aircraft controller is controlling the aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed; and

displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric information above the second region and aligned with the second axis when the automatic aircraft controller is not controlling the aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the automatic aircraft controller is a first automatic aircraft controller controlling a first aircraft function, and the alphanumeric information is first alphanumeric information, and wherein the method further comprises:

if a second automatic aircraft controller is controlling a second aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying second alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the second automatic aircraft controller at a third location of the display medium; and

if the second automatic aircraft controller is not controlling the second aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying the second alphanumeric information at a fourth location of the display medium different than the third location.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying the alphanumeric information on a display medium includes displaying the alphanumeric information on a computer display screen.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the target aircraft speed at least proximate to the first location of the display medium.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a target aircraft altitude at least proximate to the second location of the display medium.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a target altitude change rate at least proximate to the second location of the display medium.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying on the display medium a text indicator of the function provided by the automatic aircraft controller.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the alphanumeric information includes first information corresponding to the operation of an autopilot, and wherein the method further includes displaying on the display medium second information corresponding to a performance of an aircraft engine controller, the second information including at least one of a thrust limit and actual thrust level and being positioned at least proximate to the first information on the display medium.

18. A computer-implemented method for displaying information corresponding to the operation of an aircraft autopilot, comprising:

if the autopilot is controlling aircraft pitch based at least in part on a target aircraft speed, displaying alphanumeric autopilot information at a first location of a display medium; and

if the autopilot is not controlling aircraft pitch based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying the alphanumeric autopilot information at a second location of the display medium different than the first location of the display medium.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein displaying the alphanumeric autopilot information at the second location includes displaying the alphanumeric information at the second location if the autopilot is controlling aircraft pitch based at least in part on a target altitude and/or a target altitude change rate.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein displaying the alphanumeric autopilot information includes displaying at least one of the target aircraft speed, a target altitude, and a target altitude change rate.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium; and

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium; and

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium, wherein the first region is elongated along an axis and wherein if the autopilot is controlling aircraft pitch based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying the alphanumeric autopilot information includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autopilot information at the first location, with the first location aligned with the longitudinal axis.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the autopilot operates according to a plurality of predetermined modes, further wherein displaying alphanumeric autopilot information includes displaying alphanumeric autopilot information corresponding to an identity of at least one of the modes.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium; and

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium, and wherein if the autopilot is controlling aircraft pitch based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autopilot information includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autopilot information above the first region of the display medium.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

displaying alphanumeric autopilot information having a first content when the autopilot is controlling an aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed; and

when the automatic aircraft controller is controlling the aircraft function based at least in part on a target aircraft altitude or a target aircraft altitude change rate, ceasing to display the first content and displaying alphanumeric autopilot information having a second content different than the first content.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium; and

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium, and wherein displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of a display medium includes displaying the aircraft speed at a first region elongated along a first axis, and wherein displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium includes displaying the aircraft altitude at a second region elongated along a second axis spaced apart from the first axis, further wherein if the autopilot is controlling aircraft pitch based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autopilot information includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autopilot information above the first region and aligned with the first axis, still further wherein if the autopilot is not controlling aircraft pitch based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autopilot information includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autopilot information above the second region and aligned with the second axis.

27. The method of claim 18 wherein the aircraft includes an autothrottle, and wherein the method further comprises:

if the autothrottle is controlling engine thrust based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying alphanumeric autothrottle information corresponding to the operation of the autothrottle at a third location of the display medium; and

if the autothrottle is not controlling the engine thrust based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying the alphanumeric autothrottle information at a fourth location of the display medium different than the third location.

28. The method of claim 18 wherein displaying the alphanumeric autopilot information on a display medium includes displaying the alphanumeric autopilot information on a computer display screen.

29. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium; and

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium, and wherein displaying the target aircraft speed includes displaying the target aircraft speed at least proximate to the first region of the display medium.

30. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium;

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium; and

displaying a target aircraft altitude at least proximate to the second region of the display medium.

31. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium;

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium; and

displaying a target altitude change rate at least proximate to the second region of the display medium.

32. A computer-implemented method for displaying information corresponding to the operation of an aircraft autothrottle, comprising:

if the autothrottle is controlling an aircraft engine based at least in part on a target aircraft speed, displaying alphanumeric autothrottle information at a first location of a display medium; and

if the autothrottle is not controlling the aircraft engine based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying the alphanumeric autothrottle information at a second location of the display medium different than the first location of the display medium.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein displaying the alphanumeric autothrottle information at the second location includes displaying the alphanumeric information if the autothrottle is controlling the aircraft engine based at least in part on a target altitude and/or a target altitude change rate.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein displaying alphanumeric autothrottle information includes displaying at least one of a target altitude, a target altitude change rate and the target aircraft speed.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium; and

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium; and

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium, wherein the first region is elongated along an axis and wherein if the autothrottle is controlling the aircraft engine based at least in part on a target aircraft speed, displaying the alphanumeric autothrottle information includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autothrottle information at the first location, with the first location aligned with the longitudinal axis.

37. The method of claim 32 wherein the autothrottle operates according to a plurality of predetermined modes, further wherein displaying alphanumeric autothrottle information includes displaying alphanumeric autothrottle information corresponding to an identity of at least one of the modes.

38. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium; and

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium, and wherein if the autothrottle is not controlling the aircraft engine based at least in part on a target speed, displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autothrottle information includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autothrottle information above the first region of the display medium.

39. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

displaying alphanumeric autothrottle information having a first content when the autothrottle is controlling the engine based at least in part on a target aircraft speed; and

when the autothrottle is not controlling the engine based at least in part on a target aircraft speed, ceasing to display the first content and displaying alphanumeric autothrottle information having a second content different than the first content.

40. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium; and

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium, and wherein

displaying an aircraft speed includes displaying the aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium elongated along a first axis, and wherein displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium includes displaying the aircraft altitude at a second region elongated along a second axis spaced apart from the first axis, further wherein displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autothrottle information includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autothrottle information above the first region and aligned with the first axis when the autothrottle controls the aircraft engine based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, still further wherein displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autothrottle information includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autothrottle information above the second region and aligned with the second axis when the autothrottle does not control the aircraft engine based at least in part on the target aircraft speed.

41. The method of claim 32 wherein the aircraft includes an autopilot, and wherein the method further comprises:

if the autopilot is controlling aircraft pitch based at least in part on a target aircraft speed, displaying alphanumeric autopilot information corresponding to the operation of the autopilot at a third location of the display medium; and

if the autopilot is not controlling the aircraft pitch based at least in part on a target aircraft speed, displaying the alphanumeric autopilot information at a fourth location of the display medium different than the third location.

42. The method of claim 32 wherein displaying the alphanumeric autothrottle information on a display medium includes displaying the alphanumeric information on a computer display screen.

43. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium;

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium; and

displaying the target aircraft speed at least proximate to the first region of the display medium.

44. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium;

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium; and

displaying a target aircraft altitude at least proximate to the second region of the display medium.

45. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium,

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium; and

displaying a target altitude change rate at least proximate to the second region of the display medium.

46. A computer-implemented method for displaying aircraft flight information corresponding to the operation of an autopilot and an autothrottle, comprising:

if the autopilot is controlling aircraft pitch based at least in part on a target aircraft speed, displaying alphanumeric autopilot information at a first location of a display medium, and if the autopilot is not controlling aircraft pitch based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying the alphanumeric autopilot information at a second location of the display medium different than the first location of the display medium; and

if the autothrottle is controlling an aircraft engine based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying alphanumeric autothrottle information at a third location of a display medium, and if the autothrottle is not controlling the aircraft engine based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying the alphanumeric autothrottle information at a fourth location of the display medium different than the third location of the display medium.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein displaying alphanumeric autothrottle information includes displaying the alphanumeric autothrottle information above the alphanumeric autopilot information.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein displaying alphanumeric autothrottle information includes displaying at least one of a target altitude, a target altitude change rate and the target aircraft speed, and wherein displaying alphanumeric autopilot information includes displaying at least one of the target altitude, the target altitude change rate and the target aircraft speed.

49. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium; and

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium.

50. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium; and

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium, wherein the first region is elongated along a longitudinal axis and wherein displaying the alphanumeric autothrottle information includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autothrottle information at the first location, with the first location aligned with the longitudinal axis if the autothrottle is controlling the aircraft engine based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, further wherein displaying the alphanumeric autopilot information includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autopilot information at the second location, with the second location aligned with the longitudinal axis if the autopilot is controlling aircraft pitch based at least in part on the target aircraft speed.

51. The method of claim 46 wherein the autothrottle operates according to a plurality of predetermined autothrottle modes, further wherein displaying alphanumeric autothrottle information includes displaying alphanumeric autothrottle information corresponding to an identity of at least one of the autothrottle modes, and wherein the autopilot operates according to a plurality of predetermined autopilot modes, further wherein displaying alphanumeric autopilot information includes displaying alphanumeric autopilot information corresponding to an identity of at least one of the autopilot modes.

52. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium; and

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium, and wherein displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autothrottle information and the alphanumeric autopilot information includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autothrottle information and the alphanumeric autopilot information above the first region of the display medium.

53. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

displaying alphanumeric autothrottle information having a first content when the autothrottle is controlling the engine based at least in part on a target aircraft speed; and

when the autothrottle is controlling the engine based at least in part on a target aircraft altitude or a target aircraft altitude change rate, ceasing to display the first content and displaying alphanumeric autothrottle information having a second content different than the first content.

54. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium;

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium; and

wherein

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium includes displaying the aircraft speed at a first region elongated along a first axis, and wherein displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium includes displaying the aircraft altitude at a second region elongated along a second axis spaced apart from the first axis, further wherein displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autothrottle information includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autothrottle information above the first region and aligned with the first axis when the autothrottle controls the aircraft engine based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, still further wherein displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autothrottle information includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autothrottle information above the second region and aligned with the second axis when the autothrottle does not control the aircraft engine based at least in part on the target aircraft speed.

55. The method of claim 46 wherein displaying the alphanumeric autothrottle information and the alphanumeric autopilot information on a display medium includes displaying the alphanumeric autothrottle information and the alphanumeric autopilot information on a computer display screen.

56. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium; and

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium, and wherein displaying the target aircraft speed includes displaying the target aircraft speed at least proximate to the first region of the display medium.

57. The method of claim 46, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium; and

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium, and wherein displaying the target aircraft altitude includes displaying the target aircraft altitude at least proximate to the second region of the display medium.

58. A computer-implemented method for displaying information corresponding to automatic aircraft control functions, comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of a display medium;

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium;

displaying alphanumeric autopilot mode information at at least one of a first location and a second location of the display medium, the first location being aligned with the first region of the display medium, the second location being aligned with the second region of the display medium, the alphanumeric autopilot mode information corresponding to operation of an aircraft autopilot;

displaying alphanumeric autothrottle mode information at at least one of a third location and a fourth location of the display medium, the third location being aligned with the first region of the display medium, the fourth location being aligned with the second region of the display medium, the autothrottle mode information corresponding to operation of an aircraft autothrottle;

if the autopilot is controlling aircraft pitch based at least in part on a target aircraft speed, displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autopilot mode information at the first location of the display medium, and if the autopilot is not controlling aircraft pitch based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autopilot mode information at the second location of the display medium; and

if the autothrottle is controlling an aircraft engine based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autothrottle mode information at the third location of the display medium, and if the autothrottle is not controlling the aircraft engine based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric autothrottle mode information at the fourth location of the display medium.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein displaying the aircraft speed at a first region includes displaying the aircraft speed at a first region that is laterally offset from the second region.

60. The method of claim 58 wherein displaying alphanumeric autopilot mode information includes displaying the alphanumeric autopilot mode information above the first and second regions.

61. The method of claim 58 wherein displaying alphanumeric autothrottle mode information includes displaying the alphanumeric autothrottle mode information above the first and second regions.

62. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to display information corresponding to the operation of an automatic aircraft control device by performing a method comprising:

receiving information corresponding to the operation of an automatic aircraft control device;

if the control device is controlling an aircraft function based at least in part on a target aircraft speed, displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the automatic aircraft control device at a first location of a display medium; and

if the control device is not controlling the aircraft function based at least in part on a target aircraft speed, displaying the alphanumeric information at a second location of the display medium different than the first location.

63. The computer-readable medium of claim 62, wherein the method further comprises:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of a display medium;

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium; and

wherein displaying the alphanumeric information at the first location includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric information at least proximate to the first region of the display medium and wherein displaying the alphanumeric information at the second location includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric information at least proximate to the second region of the display medium.

64. The computer-readable medium of claim 62 wherein the automatic aircraft controller includes an aircraft autopilot configured to control aircraft pitch, and wherein displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the automatic aircraft controller includes displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the autopilot.

65. The computer-readable medium of claim 62 wherein the automatic aircraft controller includes an aircraft autothrottle configured to control aircraft engine thrust, and wherein displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the automatic aircraft controller includes displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the autothrottle.

66. The computer-readable medium of claim 62 wherein the automatic aircraft controller includes at least one of an aircraft autopilot and an aircraft autothrottle, and wherein the at least one of the aircraft autopilot and the aircraft autothrottle operates according to a plurality of predetermined modes, further wherein displaying alphanumeric information includes displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to an identity of at least one of the modes.

67. The computer-readable medium of claim 62, further comprising displaying the target aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium and displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric information above the first region of the display medium.

68. The computer-readable medium of claim 62 wherein the method further comprises:

displaying alphanumeric information having a first content when the automatic aircraft controller is controlling an aircraft function based at least in part on a target aircraft speed; and

when the automatic aircraft controller is not controlling the aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, ceasing to display the first content and displaying alphanumeric information having a second content different than the first content.

69. The computer-readable medium of claim 62, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium, the first region being elongated along a first axis,

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium, the second region being elongated along a second axis spaced apart from the first axis, wherein displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric information includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric information above the first region and aligned with the first axis; and

wherein displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric information includes displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric information above the second region and aligned with the second axis.

70. The computer-readable medium of claim 62 wherein the automatic aircraft controller is a first automatic aircraft controller controlling a first aircraft function, and the alphanumeric information is first alphanumeric information, and wherein the method further comprises:

if a second automatic aircraft controller is controlling a second aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying second alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the second automatic aircraft controller at a third location of the display medium; and

if the second automatic aircraft controller is not controlling the second aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying the second alphanumeric information at a fourth location of the display medium different than the third location.

71. The computer-readable medium of claim 62 wherein displaying the alphanumeric information on a display medium includes displaying the alphanumeric information on a computer display screen.

72. The computer-readable medium of claim 62 wherein displaying the alphanumeric information includes displaying the target aircraft speed.

73. The computer-readable medium of claim 62 wherein displaying the alphanumeric information includes displaying at least one of a target aircraft altitude and target altitude change rate.

74. The computer-readable medium of claim 62 wherein the alphanumeric information is first information corresponding to the operation of an autopilot, and wherein the method further includes displaying on the display medium second information corresponding to a performance of an aircraft engine controller, the second information including at lest one of a thrust limit and actual thrust level and being positioned at least proximate to the first information on the display medium.

75. A computer system for displaying information corresponding to the operation of an automatic aircraft controller, comprising:

a display medium capable of displaying the information; and

a memory with contents capable of;

displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the automatic aircraft controller at a first location of the display medium when the automatic aircraft controller is controlling an aircraft function based at least in part on a target aircraft speed; and

displaying the alphanumeric information at a second location of the display medium different than the first location when the automatic aircraft controller is not controlling the aircraft function based at least in part on a target aircraft speed.

76. The system of claim 75 wherein the contents of the memory are capable of:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of the display medium;

and

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium.

77. The system of claim 75, further comprising the automatic aircraft control device, and wherein the automatic aircraft control device includes at least one of an autopilot and an autothrottle.

78. The system of claim 75 wherein the automatic aircraft controller includes an aircraft autopilot configured to control aircraft pitch, and wherein the memory is capable of displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the autopilot.

79. The system of claim 75 wherein the automatic aircraft controller includes an aircraft autothrottle configured to control aircraft engine thrust, and wherein the memory is capable of displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the autothrottle.

80. The system of claim 75 wherein the automatic aircraft controller includes at least one of an aircraft autopilot and an aircraft autothrottle, and wherein the at least one of the aircraft autopilot and the aircraft autothrottle operates according to a plurality of predetermined modes, further wherein the memory is capable of displaying alphanumeric information corresponding to an identity of at least one of the modes.

81. The system of claim 75 wherein the memory is capable of:

displaying alphanumeric information having a first content when the automatic aircraft controller is controlling an aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed; and

when the automatic aircraft controller is not controlling the aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, ceasing to display the first content and displaying alphanumeric information having a second content different than the first content.

82. The system of claim 75 wherein the memory is capable of displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of a display medium elongated along a first axis, and wherein the memory is capable of displaying the aircraft altitude at a second region elongated along a second axis spaced apart from the first axis, further wherein the memory is capable of displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric information above the first region and aligned with the first axis when the automatic aircraft controller is controlling the aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, still further wherein the memory is capable of displaying at least a portion of the alphanumeric information above the second region and aligned with the second axis when the automatic aircraft controller is not controlling the aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed.

83. The system of claim 75 wherein the automatic aircraft controller is a first automatic aircraft controller controlling a first aircraft function, and the alphanumeric information is first alphanumeric information, and wherein the memory is capable of:

if a second automatic aircraft controller is controlling a second aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying second alphanumeric information corresponding to the operation of the second automatic aircraft controller at a third location of the display medium; and

if the second automatic aircraft controller is not controlling the second aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying the second alphanumeric information at a fourth location of the display medium different than the third location.

84. The system of claim 75 wherein the memory is capable of displaying the alphanumeric information on a computer display screen.

85. The system of claim 75, wherein the memory is capable of displaying at least one of the target aircraft speed, a target aircraft altitude and a target aircraft altitude change rate.

86. A method for displaying information corresponding to the operation of an automatic aircraft flight controller, comprising:

displaying on a display medium first information corresponding to an operation of at least one of an aircraft autopilot and an aircraft autothrottle; and

displaying on the display medium second information corresponding to a performance of an aircraft engine controller, the second information being positioned at least proximate to the first information on the display medium.

87. The method of claim 86 wherein displaying the second information includes displaying at least one of a thrust limit and an actual thrust level.

88. The method of claim 86 wherein displaying the second information includes displaying a graphical representation of an actual thrust level.

89. The method of claim 86, further comprising:

displaying an aircraft speed at a first region of a display medium;

displaying an aircraft altitude at a second region of the display medium different than the first region of the display medium; and

displaying the second information between and above the first and second regions.

90. The method of claim 86, further comprising:

if the autopilot is controlling an aircraft function based at least in part on a target aircraft speed, displaying the first information at a first location of the display medium; and

if the autopilot is not controlling the aircraft function based at least in part on the target aircraft speed, displaying the first information at a second location of the display medium different than the first location.