Controlling aircraft from collisions with off limits facilities

• US 20040193335A1
• Filed: 01/08/2004
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence J Koncelik Jr (Lawrence J. Koncelik)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence J Koncelik Jr (Lawrence J. Koncelik)
• Inventors: Koncelik, Lawrence J. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,915,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/9
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0061 for transition from automatic pilot to manual pilot and vice versa

Abstract

A signal is received from an off limits facility and it is determined from the signal whether an aircraft is within a distance of the off limits facility. The course and/or flight of the aircraft is changed if the aircraft is within the distance of the off limits facility. A signal is received from an airport and it is determined from the signal whether an aircraft will be allowed to take off from the airport. The aircraft is prevented from taking off if the signal from the airport indicates that the aircraft should be prevented from taking off. A signal is received from a satellite and it is determined from the signal whether an aircraft is within a distance of an off limits facility. The course and/or flight of the aircraft if the aircraft is changed if the aircraft is within the distance of the off limits facility.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising

a receiver;

and

a processor connected by a communications link to the receiver;

wherein the receiver receives a signal from an airport and provides the signal to the processor;

wherein the processor determines from the signal whether an aircraft will be allowed to take off from the airport;

and wherein the processor prevents the aircraft from taking off, if the signal from the airport indicates that the aircraft should be prevented from taking off.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

a transmitter;

and

wherein the transmitter sends a signal from the aircraft indicating that the aircraft has an operational device for altering the course of the aircraft when the aircraft is within a distance of an off limits facility.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the processor prevents the aircraft from taking off, at least in part, by disabling a pilot input device so that a pilot on the aircraft cannot control the flight of the aircraft.

4. An apparatus comprising

a transmitter;

and

an operational device for altering the course of an aircraft when the aircraft is within a distance of an off limits facility; and

wherein the transmitter sends a signal from the aircraft indicating that the operational device is present on the aircraft.

5. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving a signal from an airport;

determining from the signal whether an aircraft will be allowed to take off from the airport;

preventing the aircraft from taking off, if the signal from the airport indicates that the aircraft should be prevented from taking off.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising

sending a signal from the aircraft indicating that the aircraft has an operational device for altering the course of the aircraft when the aircraft is within a distance of an off limits facility.