METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UPDATING WINDS ALOFT DISPLAY AS AIRCRAFT ALTITUDE CHANGES

• US 20110098871A1
• Filed: 10/27/2009
• Published: 04/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Paul, Terry, Buchanan, Brian, Watson, Jerry
• Application Number:
  US12/606,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20110098871A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/02 Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed G01W1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/08 Adaptations of balloons, missiles, or aircraft for meteorological purposes; Radiosondes transmission of measurements G01D; transmitting circuits H04B; balloons in general B64B; aeroplanes in general B64D; missiles in general F42B15/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for displaying wind magnitudes and directions aloft as the aircraft (202) changes altitude. Wind magnitudes and directions at a plurality of locations (232) at each of a plurality of predefined altitudes, e.g., surface, 3000 feet, 6000 feet, are received (602) and the aircraft (202) altitude is continually determined (604). The wind magnitudes and directions are displayed (606) at the plurality of locations (232) at one of the plurality of altitudes in response to the determined (604) aircraft altitude.

Claims

1. A method of displaying wind magnitudes and directions to an aircrew, comprising:

receiving wind magnitudes and directions at a plurality of locations at each of a plurality of altitudes;

continually determining the current aircraft altitude; and

displaying the wind magnitudes and directions at the plurality of locations at one of the plurality of altitudes in response to the determined aircraft altitude.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises determining the aircraft'"'"'s global positioning satellite coordinates.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiving step comprises receiving from a data link weather source.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step comprises displaying the wind magnitudes and directions for an altitude closest to the current aircraft altitude.

5. The method of claim 1 further displaying the wind magnitudes and directions for an altitude determined to be the most efficient within a range of altitudes for the route of flight.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying step comprises displaying the optimum of the two closest altitudes compared to the current aircraft altitude.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the displaying step comprises determining the optimum altitude by selecting the altitude with the winds most different from the current aircraft altitude.

8. A method for displaying winds aloft to an aircrew of an aircraft, comprising:

receiving wind magnitude and direction for a first plurality of locations at a first predefined altitude;

receiving wind magnitude and direction for a second plurality of locations at a second predefined altitude;

continually determining the current aircraft altitude;

displaying the wind magnitude and direction for the first plurality of locations when the current aircraft altitude is within a range defined by a first aircraft altitude; and

displaying the wind magnitude and direction for the second plurality of locations when the current aircraft altitude is within a range defined by a second aircraft altitude.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the determining step comprises determining the aircraft'"'"'s global positioning satellite coordinates.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the receiving steps both comprise receiving from a data link weather source.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the displaying step comprises displaying the wind magnitudes and directions for an altitude closest to the current aircraft altitude.

12. The method of claim 8 further displaying the wind magnitudes and directions for an altitude determined to be the most efficient within a range of altitudes for the route of flight.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the displaying step comprises displaying the optimum of the two closest altitudes compared to the current aircraft altitude.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the displaying step comprises determining the optimum altitude by selecting the altitude with the winds most different from the current aircraft altitude.

15. A system for displaying winds at a determined one of a plurality of altitudes to the aircrew of an aircraft, comprising:

a processor configured to

receive wind magnitude and direction for a first plurality of locations at a first predefined altitude and a second plurality of locations at a second predefined altitude;

continually determine the aircraft altitude;

a display configured to

display the wind magnitude and direction for the first plurality of locations when the aircraft is within a range defined by a first aircraft altitude; and

display the wind magnitude and direction for the second plurality of locations when the aircraft is within a range defined by a second aircraft altitude.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a GPS receiver coupled to the processor and configured to receive signals, wherein the processor determines the aircraft altitude in response to the received signals.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a data link receiver coupled to the processor and configured to receive wind magnitude and direction at the first and second plurality of locations.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the processor is further configured to determine the wind magnitude and direction for the current aircraft altitude, and the display is further configured to display a numerical representation of the wind magnitude and direction at the current altitude.