SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING RUNWAY APPROACH INFORMATION

• US 20160090193A1
• Filed: 09/26/2014
• Published: 03/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: He, Gang, Johnson, Steve, Feyereisen, Thea L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,499,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/04 Landing aids; Safety measures to prevent collision with earth's surface
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for indicating to an aircrew of an aircraft an unstable approach to a desired landing. When the energy state of the aircraft exceeds a threshold, a suggested airspeed in consideration of the energy state is displayed. Additionally, a landing spots on a displayed runway are shown indicating where the aircraft would land in view of the energy state and where the aircraft is recommended to land in view of the current aircraft type and weight. A text message may also be displayed that conveys the ability of the aircraft to land.

Claims

1. A system for assisting a pilot of an aircraft to fly a stable approach to a landing, the system comprising:

a processor configured to;

determine an aircraft energy state of the aircraft; and

a display configured to;

display a first symbol indicating a speed change rate required to obtain a stable approach;

display a second symbol on a runway symbol indicating where the aircraft would touch down at the aircraft energy state determined by the processor; and

display a third symbol on the runway symbol indicating where the aircraft would touch down at the desired energy state.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to:

consider an airspeed, altitude, and distance to the runway of the aircraft when determining the aircraft energy state.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the processor is further configured to:

consider a configuration of the aircraft when determining the aircraft energy state.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the display is further configured to:

compare the aircraft energy state of the aircraft with a desired energy state; and

display an alert that the approach is unstable when the comparison exceeds a threshold.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the display is further configured to:

display an alert that the pilot should initiate a go-around when the comparison exceeds the threshold.

6. The system of claim 4 further comprising an audio device, wherein the processor is further configured to:

command the audio device to provide an audio alert that the approach is unstable when the comparison exceeds the threshold.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein the display is further configured to:

display a predicted stopping distance on the runway at the aircraft energy state when the comparison exceeds the threshold.

8. A system for assisting a pilot of an aircraft to fly a stable approach to a runway, the system comprising:

a processor configured to;

determine an aircraft energy state of the aircraft, the aircraft energy state determined from at least one of an aircraft airspeed, an aircraft altitude above the runway, and an aircraft distance to the runway;

compare the aircraft energy state with a desired energy state;

determine from the comparison if a threshold is exceeded;

determine an airspeed required by the aircraft to obtain a stable approach;

determine a position on the runway where the aircraft would touchdown if the aircraft energy state is maintained; and

determine a position on the runway where the aircraft would touch down if the desired stable approach energy state is obtained; and

a display configured to;

display an airspeed scale including a first symbol indicating the speed required to obtain a stable approach;

display a runway symbol including a second symbol indicating where the aircraft would touch down at the aircraft energy state; and

display a third symbol on the runway symbol indicating where the aircraft would touch down at the desired energy state.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the processor is further configured to:

consider the configuration of the aircraft when determining the aircraft energy state.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the display is further configured to:

compare the aircraft energy state of the aircraft with a desired energy state; and

display an alert that the approach is unstable when the comparison exceeds a threshold.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the display is further configured to:

display an alert that the pilot should initiate a go-around when the comparison exceeds the threshold.

12. The system of claim 10 further comprising an audio device, wherein the processor is further configured to:

command the audio device to provide an audio alert that the approach is unstable when the comparison exceeds the threshold.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the display is further configured to:

display a predicted stopping distance on the runway at the aircraft energy state when the comparison exceeds the threshold.

14. A method for assisting a pilot of an aircraft to fly a stable approach to a landing, comprising:

determining via a processor an aircraft energy state of the aircraft;

comparing via the processor the aircraft energy state with a desired energy state;

if the results of the comparison exceed a threshold;

displaying via a display a first symbol indicating a speed required to obtain a stable approach;

displaying via the display a second symbol on a runway symbol indicating where the aircraft would touch down at the aircraft energy state; and

displaying via the display a third symbol on the runway symbol indicating where the aircraft would touch down at the desired energy state.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

considering via the processor the airspeed, altitude, and distance to the runway when determining the aircraft energy state.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

considering via the processor the configuration of the aircraft when determining the aircraft energy state.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

displaying via the display an alert that the approach is unstable when the comparison exceeds a threshold.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

commanding via the processor an audio device to provide an audio alert that the approach is unstable when the comparison exceeds a threshold.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

displaying via the display a predicted stopping distance on the runway at the aircraft energy state when the comparison exceeds a threshold.

18. The method of claim 141 further comprising:

displaying via the display an alert that the pilot should initiate a go-around when the comparison exceeds a threshold.