DISPLAY OF AN AIRCRAFT TAXI CLEARANCE

• US 20130201037A1
• Filed: 02/06/2012
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Flasar, Jan, Whitlow, Stephen, Kabrt, Tomas, Marczi, Tomas, Glover, J. Howard
• Application Number:
  US13/366,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20130201037A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/065 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. for taxiing or rolling

Abstract

A method and system are described for enhancing ground situational awareness to an aircrew via the display of an air traffic control ground clearance, including displaying a symbol for each stage of the clearance and highlighting each symbol when the aircraft occupies that stage. A stage is highlighted when the aircraft is to hold short of that stage. Additional highlights may be included as an alert.

Claims

1. A method for displaying taxi instructions to a pilot of an aircraft, the instructions defining a plurality of positions on an airfield, comprising:

displaying a plurality of symbols, each symbol representing one of the positions; and

highlighting each symbol when the aircraft occupies the position represented by that symbol.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

highlighting one of the symbols to represent a hold instruction.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the highlighting one of the symbols comprises:

displaying a line to the left of the highlighted one of the symbols.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

removing the line in response to further taxi instructions.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying the symbols in series in the order in which the aircraft is to taxi.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

highlighting one of the symbols to indicate an alert for that stage.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

removing the highlight from the one of the symbols when a cause of the alert is no longer applicable.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying an arrow to the left of at least one of the symbols indicating a direction of turn onto the position represented by that symbol.

9. A method for displaying taxi instructions, defining a plurality of positions, to a pilot of an aircraft, comprising:

displaying a symbol for each position of the instructions; and

applying a first highlight to each symbol when the aircraft occupies the position represented by that symbol.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

applying a second highlight to one of the symbols to represent a hold instruction

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the applying a second highlight comprises:

displaying a line to the left of the symbol.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

removing the second highlight upon receipt of further taxi instructions.

13. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

applying a second highlight to one of the symbols as an alert.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

applying a second highlight to the symbol representing the last stage of the clearance.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

displaying the symbols in series in the order in which the aircraft is to taxi.

16. A system for displaying taxi instructions, including a plurality of positions, to a pilot of an aircraft, the system comprising:

a display; and

a processor configured to

display a symbol for each position of the clearance; and

apply a first highlight to each symbol when the aircraft occupies the position represented by that symbol.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the processor is further configured to:

apply a second highlight to one of the symbols to represent a hold instruction.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the processor is further configured to:

remove the second highlight upon receipt of further ground clearance.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the processor is further configured to:

apply a second highlight to one of the symbols as an alert.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein the processor is further configured to:

apply a first highlight to the symbol representing the last position of the clearance.