SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCATION OF AIRCRAFT
First Claim
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1. A system of locating an aircraft in an emergency condition, comprising:
- an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) located on board the aircraft; and
an ELT detection/locating system including an interface unit in communication with the ELT, the interface unit includes a transponder activity detector configured to monitor an aircraft transponder transmission signal;
wherein the ELT is directed to transmit a signal configured to be detected by satellite-or terrestrial-based receivers when the transponder activity detector fails to detect an expected transmission signal from the aircraft transponder while the aircraft is in operation.
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Abstract
A system and method are provided that includes an aircraft secondary radar transponder activity detector that monitors an aircraft'"'"'s transponder transmissions and activates an emergency locator transmitter to begin transmitting should the aircraft transponder transmissions cease to help locate an aircraft that may have become undetectable by conventional aircraft surveillance and tracking systems.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system of locating an aircraft in an emergency condition, comprising:
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an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) located on board the aircraft; and an ELT detection/locating system including an interface unit in communication with the ELT, the interface unit includes a transponder activity detector configured to monitor an aircraft transponder transmission signal; wherein the ELT is directed to transmit a signal configured to be detected by satellite-or terrestrial-based receivers when the transponder activity detector fails to detect an expected transmission signal from the aircraft transponder while the aircraft is in operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of initiating an emergency transmission from an aircraft for use in locating or detecting a position of the aircraft, comprising:
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monitoring expected transmissions from a Mode-S transponder aboard the aircraft using a transponder activity detector located on the aircraft while the aircraft is in flight; initiating an active alarm state when the transponder activity detector fails to receive the expected transmission; and triggering an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) to transmit a signal indicative of an emergency condition from the ELT. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification