Airplane distress system
First Claim
1. An airline distress system for an airplane including a pilot cockpit and a transponder for transmitting signals to an air traffic controller, the airline distress system comprising an auxiliary transponder that transmits auxiliary signals to the air traffic controller, the auxiliary transponder being disposed outside of the pilot cockpit and inaccessible to airplane crew and passengers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An airline distress system is provided for an airplane. The airplane includes a pilot cockpit and a transponder for transmitting signals to an air traffic controller. The airline distress system includes an auxiliary transponder (10) that transmits auxiliary signals to the air traffic controller. The auxiliary transponder is preferably disposed outside of the pilot cockpit and inaccessible to airplane crew and passengers. In one embodiment, a sensor (16) is operatively coupled with the cockpit door, and a switch (20) communicates with the sensor (16) and the auxiliary transponder (10). The auxiliary transponder (10) is configured to be automatically activated by the switch (20) according to a signal from the sensor that the cockpit door has been opened.
12 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. An airline distress system for an airplane including a pilot cockpit and a transponder for transmitting signals to an air traffic controller, the airline distress system comprising an auxiliary transponder that transmits auxiliary signals to the air traffic controller, the auxiliary transponder being disposed outside of the pilot cockpit and inaccessible to airplane crew and passengers.
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10. A method of operating an airline distress system in an airplane including a pilot cockpit and a transponder for transmitting signals to an air traffic controller, the airline distress system having an auxiliary transponder, the method comprising:
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(a) disposing the auxiliary transponder outside of the pilot cockpit and inaccessible to airplane crew and passengers;
(b) activating the auxiliary transponder according to an activate signal; and
(c) transmitting auxiliary signals to the air traffic controller. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An airline distress system for an airplane including a pilot cockpit secured by a cockpit door and a transponder for transmitting signals to an air traffic controller, the airline distress system comprising:
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an auxiliary transponder that transmits auxiliary signals to the air traffic controller, the auxiliary transponder being disposed outside of the pilot cockpit and inaccessible to airplane crew and passengers;
a sensor operatively coupled with the cockpit door; and
a switch communicating with the sensor and the auxiliary transponder, wherein the auxiliary transponder is configured to be automatically activated by the switch according to a signal from the sensor that the cockpit door has been opened. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification