AIRBORNE ADVISORY FOR INADVERTENT APPROACH TO TAXIWAY

• US 20080027596A1
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Khatwa, Ratan, Conner, Kevin J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,037,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/16
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

A taxiway approach advisory system. The system may include a computer-readable memory containing runway information and a processor in data communication with the memory. The processor may include a component for ascertaining the altitude of an aircraft, a component for ascertaining the location of the aircraft, a component for accessing runway information from the memory and determining if the aircraft is within a pre-determined runway envelope based on the altitude and location, and a component for issuing an indication if the aircraft is not within the pre-determined runway envelope.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining whether an aircraft is within an envelope of a predetermined runway based on an altitude and a position of the aircraft; and

issuing an indication if the aircraft is not within the runway envelope.

2. The method of claim 1, further including:

ascertaining an altitude of the aircraft; and

,

ascertaining a position of the aircraft.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the aircraft is within a runway envelope includes accessing runway information from a computer-readable memory.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein issuing an indication includes issuing at least one of a visual indication and an aural indication.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a width of the runway envelope is twice the width of the runway, and a length of the runway envelope extends 1 nautical mile from an approach end of the runway to the approach end of the runway.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a width of the runway envelope is twice the width of the runway plus 400 feet and a length of the runway envelope extends 3 nautical miles from an approach end of the runway to the approach end of the runway.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the indication includes a voice recording.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the indication includes a visual indicator on one of a map display and a cockpit display.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the indication includes a text message on one of an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) display, a primary flight display (PFD), a Navigation Display (ND), a Multi-Function Display (MFD), a heads-up display (HUD), and any other cockpit display.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the indication includes an alert, including at least one of a caution, an advisory, and a warning.

11. A device comprising:

a computer-readable memory containing runway information;

a processor including;

a component for accessing the runway information from the memory and determining if the aircraft is within a runway envelope based on an altitude and a position of the aircraft; and

a component for issuing an indication if the aircraft is not within the runway envelope.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor further includes:

a component for ascertaining the altitude of an aircraft; and

,

a component for ascertaining the location of the aircraft.

13. The device of claim 11, further including:

one of a visual indicator and an aural indicator.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the aural indicator further includes a voice recording.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the visual indicator includes one of a lamp, a Light Emitting Diode (LED), an indicator on a map display, and an indicator on any cockpit display.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the visual indicator includes a text message displayed on one of an Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) display, a primary flight display (PFD), a Navigation Display (ND), a Multi-Function Display (MFD), a heads-up display (HUD), and any other cockpit display.

17. An aircraft comprising:

a computer-readable memory containing runway information;

a processor including;

a component for accessing the runway information from the memory and determining if the aircraft is within a runway envelope based on the information; and

a component for issuing an indication if the aircraft is not within the runway envelope.

18. The aircraft of claim 17, wherein the processor further includes:

a component for ascertaining an altitude of the aircraft; and

,

a component for ascertaining a position of the aircraft.

19. A method comprising:

determining whether an aircraft is within an envelope of a predetermined taxiway based on an altitude and a position of the aircraft; and

issuing an indication if the aircraft is within the taxiway envelope.

20. A device comprising:

a computer-readable memory containing taxiway information;

a processor including;

a component for accessing the taxiway information from the memory and determining if the aircraft is within a taxiway envelope based on an altitude and a position of the aircraft; and

a component for issuing an indication if the aircraft is within the taxiway envelope.