SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAINTAINING AIRCRAFT SEPARATION BASED ON DISTANCE OR TIME

• US 20150120177A1
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Gurusamy, Saravanakumar, Annapureddy, Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Palanisamy, Dhivagar
• Granted Patent: US 9,142,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/120
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft

Abstract

A system and method are provided for displaying an enhanced longitudinal scale providing user interface and awareness for executing the Next Gen Flight Deck Interval Management (FIM) and the Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI) application Enhanced Visual Separation on Approach (VSA) to provide a required spacing between aircraft based on distance and time. An own-ship and a reference aircraft are displayed in relation to a desired flight path. A symbol indicates the desired separation of the own-ship from the aircraft.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a desired separation of an own-ship from an aircraft, comprising:

displaying a desired flight path;

displaying a position of the own-ship in relation to the desired flight path;

displaying a position of the aircraft in relation to the desired flight path;

displaying a symbol in relation to the desired flight path that indicates the desired separation of the aircraft from the own-ship.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying an indication of whether a velocity of the aircraft is changing.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying an indication whether an altitude of the aircraft is changing.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying an indication whether a distance between the own-ship and the aircraft is changing.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying markers on the desired flight path indicating one of a time required to flight therebetween by the own-ship, or a distance.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying an aircraft actual flight path when the aircraft is off of the desired flight path.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying an own-ship actual flight path when the own-ship is off of the desired flight path.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying a portion of the actual flight path in a different format from the desired flight path to indicate a change of aircraft or own-ship heading change.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying the desired flight path is a format relative to the distance between the aircraft and the own-ship to a desired distance.

10. A method for displaying a desired separation of an own-ship from an aircraft, comprising:

displaying a longitudinal scale representing a desired flight path;

displaying a position of the own-ship in relation to the desired flight path;

displaying a position of the aircraft in relation to the desired flight path;

displaying a symbol in relation to the desired flight path that indicates the desired separation of the aircraft from the own-ship.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

displaying an indication whether a distance between the own-ship and the aircraft is changing.

12. A system for displaying a desired separation of an own-ship from an aircraft, comprising:

a display;

a navigation system configured to determine a location of the own-ship and the aircraft;

a processor coupled to the display and the navigation system, and configured to;

display a desired flight path;

display a position of the own-ship in relation to the desired flight path;

display a position of the aircraft in relation to the desired flight path;

display a symbol in relation to the desired flight path that indicates the desired separation of the aircraft from the own-ship.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to:

display an indication of whether a velocity of the aircraft is changing.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to:

display an indication whether an altitude of the aircraft is changing.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to:

display an indication whether a distance between the own-ship and the aircraft is changing.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to:

display markers on the desired flight path indicating one of a time required to flight therebetween by the own-ship, or a distance.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to:

display an aircraft actual flight path when the aircraft is off of the desired flight path.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to:

display an own-ship actual flight path when the own-ship is off of the desired flight path.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to:

display a portion of the actual flight path in a different format from the desired flight path to indicate a change of aircraft or own-ship heading change.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein the processor is further configured to:

display the desired flight path is a format relative to the distance between the aircraft and the own-ship to a desired distance.