SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING NUISANCE ALERTS FOR HELICOPTER ENHANCED GROUND PROXIMITY WARNING SYSTEMS

• US 20070296612A1
• Filed: 10/04/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Ishihara, Yasuo, Bateman, Charles D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,626,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/970
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/005 altimeters for aircraft G01C5/02, G01C5/06 take precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling activation of a look-ahead function of a terrain alert and warning system. The system receives rate of climb and aircraft speed information, compares the rate of climb and aircraft speed information to a predefined threshold, and deactivates a look-ahead function based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A method for controlling activation of a look-ahead function of a terrain alert and warning system, the method comprising:

receiving aircraft rate of climb and aircraft speed information;

comparing at least one of the rate of climb and aircraft speed information to a predefined threshold; and

setting an operating state of a look-ahead function based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein setting includes setting includes inhibiting output of at least one of a caution or warning signal produced by the look-ahead function.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein setting includes setting the operating state as active if the comparison indicates that the rate of climb is at least 500 feet per minute.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein setting includes setting the operating state as active if the aircraft speed is at least 70 kts.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined threshold is defined by any aircraft speed greater than a threshold aircraft speed and a rate of climb that is greater than at least one of a straight sloped line or a curve defined by a first rate of climb at 0 kts aircraft speed and a second rate of climb at the threshold aircraft speed.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first rate of climb is 500 feet per minute.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second rate of climb is 200 feet per minute.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the threshold aircraft speed is 70 kts.

9. A system for controlling activation of a look-ahead function of a terrain alert and warning system, the system comprising:

one or more flight information sources for generating rate of climb and aircraft speed information;

a processing device in communication with the one or more flight information sources configured to;

receive aircraft rate of climb and aircraft speed information;

compare at least one of the rate of climb and aircraft speed information to a predefined threshold; and

set an operating state of the look-ahead function based on the comparison.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processing device inhibites output of at least one of a caution or warning signal produced by the look-ahead function.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the processing device sets the operating state of the look-ahead function as active if the rate of climb is at least 500 feet per minute.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing device sets the operating state of the look-ahead function as active if the aircraft speed is at least 70 kts.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the predefined threshold is defined by any aircraft speed greater than a threshold aircraft speed and a rate of climb that is greater than at least one of a straight sloped line or a curve defined by a first rate of climb at 0 kts aircraft speed and a second rate of climb at the threshold aircraft speed.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first rate of climb is 500 feet per minute.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the second rate of climb is 200 feet per minute.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the threshold aircraft speed is 70 kts.