Quiet Climb Crew Interface

• US 20080312781A1
• Filed: 06/15/2007
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Holder, Barbara E., Nikolic, Mark I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/04 using a separate indicating element for each variable

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, a method includes displaying information corresponding to automatically controlled engine thrust levels during a reduced engine thrust period of flight of an aircraft. The information corresponds to one or more parameters associated with a flight control computer of the aircraft. In an alternate aspect, the displayed information includes alphanumeric information formatted in accordance with a sequential order of the automatically controlled engine thrust levels. In a further aspect, the alphanumeric information corresponds to first, second and third engine thrust levels.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

displaying information corresponding to automatically controlled engine thrust levels during a reduced engine thrust period of flight of an aircraft, the information corresponding to one or more parameters associated with a flight control computer of the aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying information includes displaying alphanumeric information formatted in accordance with a sequential order of the automatically controlled engine thrust levels.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the alphanumeric information corresponds to first, second and third engine thrust levels; and

the first and third engine thrust levels are respectively greater than the second engine thrust level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying information includes displaying graphical information corresponding to the automatically controlled engine thrust levels, the graphical information plotted with respect to a planned flight path for the aircraft.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the graphical information includes:

indicia indicating a beginning of a reduced engine thrust level period of flight;

indicia indicating an end of the reduced engine thrust level period of flight; and

indicia spanning the entire reduced engine thrust level period of flight.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the planned flight path for the aircraft is displayed in a plan view format.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the planned flight path for the aircraft is displayed in a vertical situation format.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the graphical information includes a combination of textual and symbolic information.

9. One or more computer-readable storage media including a program code, the program code configured to cause a flight control computer of an aircraft to:

display alphanumeric information including one or more parameters of a sequence of automatically controlled engine thrust levels, the one or more parameters stored in the flight control computer;

store a change to at least one of the one or more parameters in accordance with user input to the flight control computer; and

display graphical information corresponding to the sequence of automatically controlled engine thrust levels plotted along a planned path of travel for the aircraft.

10. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 9, wherein the program code is further configured such that at least one of the one or more parameters is provided to the flight control computer by way of communication with an entity external to the aircraft.

11. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 9, wherein the program code is further configured to display the alphanumeric information in a format corresponding to a sequential order of the automatically controlled engine thrust levels.

12. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 11, wherein the program code is further configured to display the alphanumeric information as two or more vertical columns.

13. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 9, wherein the program code is further configured such that the graphical information includes:

indicia corresponding to a beginning of a reduced engine thrust level period of flight;

indicia corresponding to an end of the reduced engine thrust level period of flight; and

indicia spanning the reduced engine thrust level period of flight.

14. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 13, wherein the program code is further configured such that:

the indicia corresponding to a beginning of a reduced engine thrust level period of flight and the indicia corresponding to an end of the of reduced engine thrust level period of flight are both displayed in a first color; and

the planned path of travel for the aircraft is displayed in a second color distinct from the first color.

15. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 14, wherein the program code is further configured such that the indicia spanning the reduced engine thrust level period of flight is displayed in the first color.

16. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 9, wherein the program code is further configured such that the alphanumeric information is displayed so as to indicate a user selection of one or more of the parameters by way of at least one of a change in color and a change in boldness of a font.

17. A flight control computer configured to:

display information related to automatically controlled engine thrust levels during a reduced engine thrust level period of flight of an aircraft, the information corresponding to one or more parameters associated with the flight control computer.

18. The flight control computer of claim 17, wherein:

the displayed information includes alphanumeric information formatted so as to indicate a sequential order of the automatically controlled engine thrust levels; and

the flight computer is further configured to receive changes to one or more of the one or more parameters by way of user input to the flight control computer.

19. The flight control computer of claim 17, wherein the displayed information includes graphical information corresponding to the automatically controlled engine thrust levels plotted with respect to a planned flight path for an aircraft.

20. The flight control computer of claim 19, wherein the graphical information includes at least one of:

indicia corresponding to a beginning of a reduced engine thrust level period of flight;

indicia corresponding to an end of the reduced engine thrust level period of flight; and

indicia spanning the reduced engine thrust level period of flight.