GROUND BASED SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING MULTIPLE FLIGHTPLAN RE-PLAN SCENARIOS TO A PILOT DURING FLIGHT

• US 20140257682A1
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Brabham, David Allen, Redner, Trip, Payasam, SatyaBhaskar, Agarwal, Anand
• Granted Patent: US 9,117,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/120
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0026 located on the ground
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0047 Navigation or guidance aids for a single aircraft details of equipment G08G5/0017
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/006 in accordance with predefined flight zones, e.g. to avoid prohibited zones
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0082 for monitoring traffic from a ground station radar or analogous systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0091 for monitoring atmospheric conditions radar or analogous systems specially adapted for meteorological use G01S13/95; meteorology G01W

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for transmitting re-routing options to a plurality of in-flight aircraft in accordance with preconfigured pilot preferences. The apparatus comprises a data store module containing data sets against which the pilot preferences are evaluated during flight, including weather, airspace and flight restrictions, ground delay programs, and air traffic information. The apparatus further includes a flight path module containing route and position information for each aircraft. An incursion alert processing module evaluates the flight path, data store, and pilot preferences and generates incursion alerts which are transmitted to each aircraft during flight. Upon receipt of an incursion alert or, alternatively, independent of an incursion alert, the pilot may request re-routing options. Once received and reviewed, the pilot selects the optimum re-routing option, and an associated micro flight plan is uplinked and loaded into the FMS (Flight Management System).

Claims

1. A method of re-routing an aircraft during flight, comprising:

determining the existence of an in-flight incursion requiring a work around;

receiving a re-routing request from the aircraft;

computing re-routing options based on at least two of weather, air and ground traffic, aircraft fuel level, wind speed and direction, turbulence, electrical and mechanical problems with the aircraft, airspace restrictions, and diversion;

transmitting “

N”

number of re-routing options to the aircraft;

selecting, from the aircraft, a unique one of the re-routing options; and

uplinking a micro flight plan corresponding to the selected re-routing option to an on-board flight management system (FMS).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the re-routing options comprises uplinking the re-routing options to the aircraft via an avionics Datalink.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein computing re-routing options further comprises generating a corresponding micro flight plan for each re-routing option.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein N=1-10.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein N=3.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising negotiating at least one re-routing option with an external authority.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising generating additional re-routing options as a result of said negotiating.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising specifying, by the pilot, a set of bounds.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein computing comprises computing the re-routing options based further on the set of bounds.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein in response to selecting a unique one of the re-routing options, a corresponding micro flight plan is uplinked to the aircraft and loaded into an on-board flight management system (FMS).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the existence of an in-flight incursion comprises automatically generating an incursion alert.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the existence of an in-flight incursion is based on a pilot request.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said pilot request comprises altering at least one of air speed, direction, and altitude.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said pilot request is based on at least one of:

i) a ground based message received by the aircraft;

ii) an unexpected localized change in at least one of weather, traffic, fuel, wind, turbulence, aircraft electrical and mechanical problems, air space restrictions, diversion; and

iii) pilot desire to change speed, heading, or altitude.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the incursion is based on schedule adherence.

16. A method for providing re-planning options to an aircraft during flight, comprising:

configuring, using a processor, a set of pilot preferences for said aircraft during a pre-flight configuration phase;

applying said set of pilot preferences to an incursion alert processing module;

maintaining a data store of conditions impacting said aircraft during takeoff, landing, and in flight, said data store of conditions including conditions relating to weather, airspace restrictions, temporary flight restrictions, ground delay programs, and air traffic;

applying said data store to said incursion alert processing module;

monitoring a flight path for said aircraft during flight;

applying route and position data to said incursion alert processing module;

evaluating, by a processor, said set of pilot preferences and said flight path against said data store;

generating an incursion alert for said aircraft based on said evaluation;

transmitting said incursion alert to said aircraft during flight;

generating a plurality of work around options for said aircraft based on said evaluation; and

transmitting said plurality of work around options to said aircraft during flight.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising selecting one of said work around options and loading a micro flight plan into an on-board flight management system (FMS) corresponding to the selected option.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising specifying a set of pilot bounds and generating the plurality of work around options based on the set of pilot bounds.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the number of work around options is pilot configurable in the range of 3-5.

20. A system for transmitting re-routing options to a plurality of in-flight aircraft in accordance with preconfigured pilot preferences, comprising:

a data store module containing data sets against which said pilot preferences are evaluated during flight, including weather, airspace and flight restrictions, ground delay programs, and air traffic information;

a flight path module containing route and position information for each aircraft;

an incursion alert processing module configured to evaluate said flight path, said data store, and said pilot preferences and to generate incursion alerts and to transmit said incursion alerts to each of said aircraft during flight; and

a datalink configured to provide a plurality of re-routing options to each of said aircraft based on one of said incursion alerts.