Standby Aircraft Management System

• US 20130274962A1
• Filed: 04/12/2012
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Cornell, Bradley David, Sandell, Gordon Robert Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,838,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0075 Adaptations for use of electronic flight bags in aircraft; Supports therefor in the cockpit
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

A method and apparatus for operating an aircraft. An aircraft system comprises a housing, a standby aircraft management system, and a backup power system. The standby aircraft management system is associated with the housing and is configured to provide communications, navigation, and control of a number of aircraft systems needed for safe flight and landing of an aircraft in which the standby aircraft management system is located. The backup power system is configured to supply power to the standby aircraft management system when the power is unavailable from the aircraft.

Claims

1. An aircraft system comprising:

a housing; and

a standby aircraft management system associated with the housing and configured to provide communications, navigation, and control of a number of aircraft systems needed for safe flight and landing of an aircraft in which the standby aircraft management system is located.

2. The aircraft system of claim 1, wherein the standby aircraft management system comprises:

a location system configured to identify location information for the aircraft during flight of the aircraft;

a navigator configured to store a flight plan for the aircraft, receive the location information, and display navigation information using the flight plan, the location information, and the navigation information;

a communications system;

a systems controller configured to control at least a portion of the number of aircraft systems; and

an interface configured to receive data from the number of aircraft systems using a number of direct connections to the number of aircraft systems and send commands to the at least a portion of the number of aircraft systems.

3. The aircraft system of claim 2 further comprising:

a backup power system configured to supply power to the standby aircraft management system when the power is unavailable from the aircraft.

4. The aircraft system of claim 3, wherein the housing, the standby aircraft management system, and the backup power system are located in one of a tablet computer and an electronic flight bag.

5. A standby aircraft management system comprising:

a housing;

a location system associated with the housing, wherein the location system is configured to identify location information for an aircraft during flight of the aircraft;

an interface associated with the housing and configured to receive data from a number of aircraft systems using a number of direct connections to the number of aircraft systems; and

a navigator associated with the housing and configured to store a flight plan for the aircraft, receive the location information, and display navigation information using the flight plan, the location information, and the data.

6. The standby aircraft management system of claim 5 further comprising:

a communications system located in the housing.

7. The standby aircraft management system of claim 5 further comprising:

a systems controller configured to control at least a portion of the number of aircraft systems.

8. The standby aircraft management system of claim 7, wherein the interface is further configured to send commands to the at least a portion of the number of aircraft systems.

9. The standby aircraft management system of claim 5 further comprising:

a battery system.

10. The standby aircraft management system of claim 5, wherein the navigator is further configured to receive waypoints for the flight plan in response to an event in which the navigation information comprises the waypoints and a location of the aircraft with respect to the waypoints.

11. The standby aircraft management system of claim 7, wherein the at least a portion of the number of aircraft systems is selected from one of a fuel system, a hydraulics system, an auxiliary power unit, an environmental control system, a very high frequency transceiver, a satellite antenna, and an intercom system.

12. The standby aircraft management system of claim 7, wherein the at least a portion of the number of aircraft systems is used to provide desired flight of the aircraft.

13. The standby aircraft management system of claim 5, wherein the location system comprises a global positioning system receiver and a global positioning system antenna.

14. The standby aircraft management system of claim 5, wherein the housing, the location system, the interface, and the navigator are part of a device selected from one of a tablet computer, an electronic flight bag, a mobile phone, and a laptop computer.

15. A method for operating an aircraft, the method comprising:

receiving location information from a location system associated with a standby aircraft management system;

receiving data from a number of aircraft systems through an interface directly connected to the number of aircraft systems;

generating navigation information using a flight plan stored in the standby aircraft management system for the aircraft, the location information, and the data;

displaying the navigation information on a display device; and

operating the aircraft using the navigation information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the standby aircraft management system further comprises a communications system located in a housing.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

controlling at least a portion of the number of aircraft systems using a systems controller in the standby aircraft management system.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein displaying the navigation information on the display device comprises:

displaying waypoints and a location of the aircraft with respect to the waypoints.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least a portion of the number of aircraft systems is selected from one of a fuel system, a hydraulics system, an auxiliary power unit, an environmental control system, a very high frequency transceiver, a satellite antenna, and an intercom system.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the location system comprises a global positioning system receiver and a global positioning system antenna.