SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INFORMING AN AIRCRAFT OPERATOR ABOUT A TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTION IN PERSPECTIVE VIEW

• US 20110202206A1
• Filed: 02/17/2010
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Karthikeyan, Tharangini, Palaniswamy, Kalpana, Kumaar, Kavitha
• Granted Patent: US 8,456,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones

Abstract

A system for informing aircraft operators about a temporary flight restriction (“TFR”) includes, but is not limited to, a display unit that is adapted for attachment to an aircraft. The display unit is configured to display graphical images. A processor is communicatively connected to the display unit and is configured to control the display unit. A receiver is communicatively connected to the processor and is configured to receive a broadcast containing information relating to the TFR (“TFR information”) and to automatically provide the TFR information to the processor. The processor is further configured to automatically control the display unit to display a three dimensional representation of an airspace that is subject to the TFR relative to the position of the aircraft when the processor receives the TFR information from the receiver.

Claims

1. A system for informing an aircraft operator about a temporary flight restriction (“

TFR”

), the system comprising;

a display unit adapted for attachment to an aircraft, the display unit configured to display graphical images;

a processor communicatively connected to the display unit, the processor configured to control the display unit; and

a receiver communicatively connected to the processor, the receiver configured to receive a broadcast containing information relating to the TFR (“

TFR information”

) and to automatically provide the TFR information to the processor,

wherein the processor is further configured to automatically control the display unit to display a three dimensional representation of an airspace that is subject to the TFR when the processor receives the TFR information from the receiver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the display unit in a manner such that the three dimensional representation has a shape that corresponds to a shape of the airspace that is subject to the TFR.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the display unit is further configured to display textual information and wherein the processor is further configured to control the display unit to display a notam identifier corresponding to a type of TFR associated with the airspace that is subject to the TFR.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the display unit is further configured to display textual information and wherein the processor is further configured to control the display unit to display a maximum altitude and a minimum altitude of the airspace that is subject to the TFR.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the display unit is further configured to display textual information and wherein the processor is further configured to control the display unit to display a range from the aircraft to the airspace that is subject to the TFR.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the range is displayed in a first color when the aircraft is greater than a predetermined distance from the airspace that is subject to the TFR and wherein the range is displayed in a second color when the aircraft is less than the predetermined distance from the airspace that is subject to the TFR.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to control the display unit to color code the three dimensional representation in a manner that corresponds to a type of TFR that is associated with the airspace that is subject to the TFR.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein a size of the three dimensional representation corresponds with a range from the aircraft to the airspace that is subject to the TFR.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the size varies as the range varies.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a speaker unit communicatively connected to the processor and wherein the processor is further configured to control the speaker unit to provide aural alerts when the aircraft approaches to within a predetermined distance from the airspace that is subject to the TFR.

11. A system for informing an aircraft operator about temporary flight restrictions (“

TFR”

), the system comprising;

a display unit adapted for attachment to an aircraft, the display unit configured to display graphical images and textual information;

a processor communicatively connected to the display unit, the processor configured to control the display unit;

a receiver communicatively connected to the processor, the receiver configured to receive a broadcast containing information relating to the TFR (“

TFR information”

) and to automatically provide the TFR information to the processor; and

a position determining unit communicatively connected to the processor, the position determining unit configured to automatically determine a geographical location of the aircraft, an altitude of the aircraft and a heading of the aircraft, the position determining unit being further configured to automatically provide the geographical location of the aircraft, the altitude of the aircraft and the heading of the aircraft to the processor;

wherein the processor is further configured to automatically control the display unit to display a three dimensional representation of an airspace that is subject to the TFR when the processor receives the TFR information from the receiver, and wherein the processor is still further configured to utilize the geographical location of the aircraft, the altitude of the aircraft and the heading of the aircraft to control the display unit to display the three dimensional representation in a manner that depicts a relative position of the airspace that is subject to the TFR with respect to the aircraft.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the position determining unit comprises one of a global positioning satellite system and an inertial navigation system.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is configured to control the display unit in a manner such that the three dimensional representation has a shape that corresponds to a shape of the airspace that is subject to the TFR.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to control the display unit to display a NOTAM identifier corresponding to the TFR associated with the airspace that is subject to the TFR.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to control the display unit to display a maximum altitude and a minimum altitude of the airspace that is subject to the TFR.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to control the display unit to display a range from the aircraft to the airspace that is subject to the TFR.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the range is displayed in a first color when the aircraft is greater than a predetermined distance from the airspace that is subject to the TFR and wherein the range is displayed in a second color when the aircraft is less than the predetermined distance from the airspace that is subject to the TFR.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the three dimensional representation is color coded in a manner that corresponds with a type of TFR.

19. The system of claim 11, further comprising a speaker unit communicatively connected to the processor and wherein the processor is further configured to control the speaker unit to provide aural alerts when the aircraft approaches to within a predetermined distance from the airspace that is subject to the TFR.

20. A method for informing an aircraft operator about a temporary flight restriction (“

TFR”

), the method comprising the steps of;

receiving a broadcast onboard an aircraft, the broadcast containing information about the TFR;

processing the broadcast to extract the information about the TFR and to determine the location of the aircraft with respect to the restricted airspace; and

displaying on a display screen onboard the aircraft a three dimensional image depicting an airspace that is subject to the TFR.