Flight attendant actuated warning system and method

• US 20040027256A1
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael W. Lane
• Original Assignee: Michael W. Lane
• Inventors: Lane, Michael W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,816,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A flight attendant actuated warning system for alerting a flight crew in a flight deck compartment of an aircraft of a potential hijacking or other troublesome situation includes a receiver unit on the flight deck and at least one portable transmitter unit with a flight attendant in the passenger cabin. In the event of trouble, the flight attendant can actuate the transmitter to transmit a preselected activation signal having a frequency that does not interfere with the avionics and navigational equipment of the aircraft. The signal is received by the receiver unit and activates an audible and visual alarm of the receiver unit to alert the flight crew. The signal may also actuate a radio in the receiver unit that transmits on a preselected frequency, a transponder to squawk a hijacking code, and a vibratory alarm of one or more portable receivers with flight attendants and/or a federal air marshal.

Claims

1. A flight attendant actuated warning system in an aircraft for alerting a flight crew in a flight deck compartment of the aircraft that a potential hijacking, passenger initiated disturbance, or other troublesome situation for which a flight attendant is seeking assistance is occurring in a passenger cabin of the aircraft, comprising:

a receiver unit mounted in the flight deck compartment of the aircraft;

the receiver unit having receiving and activating means for receiving a first preselected activation signal transmitted from a portable transmitter unit located in the passenger cabin of the aircraft and activating an audible alert means and a visual alert means of the receiver unit to alert a flight crew in the flight deck compartment of the aircraft that a troublesome situation is occurring in the passenger cabin of the aircraft;

the receiver unit including a reset means that may be actuated by a member of the flight crew in the flight deck compartment of the aircraft to terminate an existing audio and visual alert and return the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit to a standby state where the receiver unit is ready to again be activated by receipt of the first preselected activation signal;

a first portable transmitter unit located in the passenger cabin of the aircraft with a first flight attendant for actuation by the first flight attendant in the event a troublesome situation occurs in the passenger cabin of the aircraft;

the first portable transmitter unit having means for transmitting the first preselected activation signal to activate the audio alert means and the visual alert means of the receiver unit and alert the flight crew in the flight deck compartment, through the audio alert means and the visual alert means, that a troublesome situation is occurring in the passenger cabin of the aircraft;

the first preselected activation signal transmitted by the first portable transmitter unit having a transmission frequency outside a frequency range utilized by avionic and navigational equipment of the aircraft to avoid interfering with the function of the avionic and navigational equipment of the aircraft; and

the first portable transmitter unit having transmitter actuating means for actuating the first portable transmitter unit to transmit the first preselected activation signal.

2. The flight attendant actuated warning system according to claim 1, wherein:

the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit must receive the first preselected signal for at least one second before activating the audible alert means and the visual alert means.

3. The flight attendant actuated warning system according to claim 2, wherein:

the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit, when activated by the first preselected activation signal, activates the audible alert means and the visual alert means of the receiver unit for a preselected period of time and then automatically turns off the audible alert means and the visual alert means and returns to the standby state so that the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit is ready to again receive the first preselected signal to activate the audible alert means and the visual alert means of the receiver unit; and

the reset means is the only means that can be actuated to terminate an existing audio and visual alert and return the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit to a standby state prior to the end of the preselected time period for the activation of the audible and visual alert.

4. The flight attendant actuated warning system according to claim 1, wherein:

the receiver unit includes a radio transmitter means that transmits on an international emergency frequency or other preselected frequency;

the radio transmitter means includes programming means for programming the radio transmitter means to automatically transmit the call sign and flight number of the aircraft when the radio transmitter means is operating;

the radio transmitter means includes a microphone for automatically picking up and transmitting voices and other sounds from the flight deck compartment when the radio transmitter means is operating;

the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit includes means for automatically turning on the radio transmitter means a preselected time period after the receipt by the receiver unit of the first preselected activation signal to initiate radio transmissions over the radio transmitter means; and

the reset means includes means when the reset means is actuated by a member of the flight deck crew that prevents the radio transmitter means from being turned on in response to the receipt by receiving and activating means of the receiver unit of the first preselected activation signal and that turns off the radio transmitter means after radio transmitter means has begun transmitting.

5. The flight attendant actuated warning system according to claim 1, including:

a portable receiver unit located in the passenger cabin of the aircraft with a second flight attendant or a federal air marshal;

the portable receiver unit having a receiving and activating means for receiving the first preselected activation signal and activating a vibrating alert means of the portable receiver unit in responsive to the receipt by the portable receiver unit of the first preselected activation signal to alert the second flight attendant or the federal air marshal with the portable receiver of a troublesome situation without attracting attention to the second flight attendant or the federal air marshal with the portable receiver.

6. The flight attendant actuated aircraft warning system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first portable transmitter unit is preset and fixed to only transmit the first preselected activation signal; and

the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit can be reset to receive a different first preselected activation signal to enable the use of a replacement portable transmitter unit with the different first preselected activation signal.

7. The flight attendant actuated aircraft warning system according to claim 1, including:

a second portable transmitter unit located in the passenger cabin of the aircraft with a second flight attendant for actuation by the second flight attendant in the event a troublesome situation occurs in the passenger cabin of the aircraft;

the second portable transmitter unit having means for transmitting the first preselected activation signal to the receiver unit when the second flight attendant wants to alert the flight crew in the flight deck compartment of a troublesome situation in the passenger cabin.

8. The flight attendant actuated warning system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first portable transmitter unit has means for transmitting a second preselected signal to activate the audio and visual alert means of the receiver unit;

the second preselected activation signal transmitted by the first portable transmitter unit having a transmission frequency outside a frequency range utilized by avionic and navigational equipment of the aircraft to avoid interfering with the function of the avionic and navigational equipment of the aircraft;

the actuating means of the first portable transmitter having first means for actuating the first portable transmitter unit to transmit the first preselected activation signal when the first flight attendant wants to alert the flight crew in the flight deck compartment of a first troublesome situation;

the actuating means of the first portable transmitter having second means for actuating the first portable transmitter unit to transmit the second preselected activation signal when the first flight attendant wants to alert the flight crew in the flight deck compartment of a second troublesome situation in the passenger cabin different from the first troublesome situation; and

the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit can receive the first and second preselected activation signals from the first portable transmitter unit located in the passenger cabin of the aircraft;

receipt by the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit of the first preselected activation signal activating the audio alert means of the receiver unit and activating the visual alert means of the receiver unit to indicate the first troublesome situation; and

receipt by the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit of the second preselected activation signal activating the audio alert means of the receiver unit and activating the visual alert means of the receiver unit to indicate the second troublesome situation.

9. The flight attendant actuated warning system according to claim 8, wherein:

the troublesome situation indicated by the visual alert means of the receiver unit by the activation of the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit by the first preselected activation signal is a hijacking; and

the troublesome situation indicated by the visual alert means of the receiver unit by the activation of the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit by the second preselected activation signal is a troublesome situation other than a hijacking.

10. The flight attendant actuated warning system according to claim 8, wherein:

the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit must receive the first or second preselected activation signal for at least one second before activating the audible alert means and the visual alert means.

11. The flight attendant actuated warning system according to claim 8, wherein:

the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit, when activated by either the first or second preselected activation signal, activates the audible alert means and the visual alert means of the receiver unit for a preselected period of time and then automatically turns off the audible alert means and the visual alert means and returns to the standby state where the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit is ready to again receive the first or second preselected signal to activate the audible alert means and the visual alert means of the receiver unit; and

the reset means is the only means that can be actuated to terminate an existing audio and visual alert and return the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit to a standby state prior to the end of the preselected time period for the activation of the audible and visual alert.

12. The flight attendant actuated warning system according to claim 11, wherein:

the receiver unit includes a radio transmitter means that transmits on an international emergency frequency or other preselected frequency;

the radio transmitter means includes programming means for programming the radio transmitter means to automatically transmit the call sign and flight number of the aircraft when the radio transmitter means is operating;

the radio transmitter means includes a microphone for automatically picking up and transmitting voices and other sounds from the flight deck compartment when the radio transmitter means is operating;

the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit includes means for automatically turning on the radio transmitter means a preselected time period after the receipt by the receiver unit of the first preselected activation signal to initiate radio transmissions over the radio transmitter means; and

the reset means includes means when the reset means is actuated by a member of the flight deck crew that prevents the radio transmitter means from being turned on in response to the receipt by receiving and activating means of the receiver unit of the first preselected activation signal and that turns off the radio transmitter means after radio transmitter means has begun transmitting.

13. The flight attendant actuated warning system according to claim 8, including:

a portable receiver unit located in the passenger cabin of the aircraft with a second flight attendant or a federal air marshal;

the portable receiver unit having a receiving and activating means for receiving the first and second preselected activation signal and activating a vibrating alert means of the portable receiver unit in responsive to the receipt by the portable receiver unit of the first or second preselected activation signal to alert the second flight attendant or the federal air marshal with the portable receiver of a troublesome situation without attracting attention to the second flight attendant or the federal air marshal with the portable receiver.

14. The flight attendant actuated warning system according to claim 13, wherein:

the portable receiver unit is less than 2 inches×

3 inches×

0.5 inches in size so that the portable transmitter unit can be easily concealed by the second flight attendant or federal air marshal.

15. The flight attendant actuated aircraft warning system according to claim 8, wherein:

the first portable transmitter unit is preset and fixed to only transmit the first and second preselected activation signals; and

the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit can be reset to receive different first and second preselected activation signals to enable the use of a replacement portable transmitter unit with the different first and second preselected activation signals.

16. The flight attendant actuated aircraft warning system according to claim 8, including:

a second portable transmitter unit located in the passenger cabin of the aircraft with a second flight attendant for actuation by the second flight attendant in the event a troublesome situation occurs in the passenger cabin of the aircraft;

the second portable transmitter unit having means for transmitting the first and second preselected activation signals to the receiver unit;

the second portable transmitter having actuating means;

the actuating means of the second portable transmitter having first means for actuating the second portable transmitter unit to transmit the first preselected activation signal when the second flight attendant wants to alert the flight crew in the flight deck compartment of the first troublesome situation; and

the actuating means of the second portable transmitter having second means for actuating the second portable transmitter unit to transmit the second preselected activation signal when the second flight attendant wants to alert the flight crew in the flight deck compartment of the troublesome situation.

17. The flight attendant actuated aircraft warning system according to claim 8, including:

a second portable transmitter unit located in the passenger cabin of the aircraft with a second flight attendant for actuation by the second flight attendant in the event a troublesome situation occurs in the passenger cabin of the aircraft;

the second portable transmitter unit having means for transmitting the third and fourth preselected activation signals to the receiver unit;

the second portable transmitter having actuating means;

the actuating means of the second portable transmitter having first means for actuating the second portable transmitter unit to transmit the third preselected activation signal when the second flight attendant wants to alert the flight crew in the flight deck compartment of the first troublesome situation; and

the actuating means of the second portable transmitter having second means for actuating the second portable transmitter unit to transmit the fourth preselected activation signal when the second flight attendant wants to alert the flight crew in the flight deck compartment of the second troublesome situation;

the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit can receive the third and fourth preselected activation signals from the first portable transmitter unit located in the passenger cabin of the aircraft;

receipt by the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit of the third preselected activation signal activating the audio alert means and activating the visual alert means of the receiver unit so that the visual alert means indicates the activation signal came from the second portable transmitter unit and the first troublesome situation; and

receipt by the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit of the fourth preselected activation signal activating the audio alert means and activating the visual alert means of the receiver unit so that the visual alert means indicates the activation signal came from the second portable transmitter unit and the second troublesome situation; and

receipt by the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit of the first or second preselected activation signal activating the visual alert means of the receiver unit so that the visual alert means indicates the activation signal came from the first portable transmitter unit.

18. The flight attendant actuated warning system according to claim 17, wherein:

the first and second portable transmitter units are each less than 2 inches×

3 inches×

0.5 inches in size so that the portable transmitter unit can be easily concealed by the first flight attendant.

19. The flight attendant actuated warning system according to claim 1, wherein:

the first portable transmitter unit is less than 2 inches×

3 inches×

0.5 inches in size so that the portable transmitter unit can be easily concealed by the first flight attendant.

20. A method for alerting a flight crew in a flight deck compartment of the aircraft that a potential hijacking, passenger initiated disturbance, or other troublesome situation for which a flight attendant is seeking assistance is occurring in a passenger cabin of the aircraft, comprising:

locating a receiver unit in the flight deck compartment of the aircraft;

the receiver unit having receiving and activating means for receiving a first preselected activation signal transmitted from a portable transmitter unit located in the passenger cabin of the aircraft and activating an audible alert means and a visual alert means of the receiver unit to alert a flight crew in the flight deck compartment of the aircraft that a troublesome situation is occurring in the passenger cabin of the aircraft;

the receiver unit including a reset means that may be actuated by a member of the flight crew in the flight deck compartment of the aircraft to terminate an existing audio and visual alert and return the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit to a standby state where the receiver unit is ready to again be activated by receipt of the first preselected activation signal; and

locating a first portable transmitter unit in the passenger cabin of the aircraft with a first flight attendant for actuation by the first flight attendant in the event a troublesome situation occurs in the passenger cabin of the aircraft;

the first portable transmitter unit having means for transmitting the first preselected activation signal to activate the audio alert means and the visual alert means of the receiver unit and alert the flight crew in the flight deck compartment, through the audio alert means and the visual alert means, that a troublesome situation is occurring in the passenger cabin of the aircraft;

the first preselected activation signal transmitted by the first portable transmitter unit having a transmission frequency outside a frequency range utilized by avionic and navigational equipment of the aircraft to avoid interfering with the function of the avionic and navigational equipment of the aircraft; and

the first portable transmitter unit having transmitter actuating means for actuating the first portable transmitter unit to transmit the first preselected activation signal; and

actuating the first portable transmitter unit actuating means and transmitting the first preselected activation signal to the receiver unit to activate the receiving and activating means of the receiver unit.