TRAINING SYSTEM AND SIMULATION METHOD FOR GROUND TRAVEL IN AIRCRAFT EQUIPPED WITH NON-ENGINE DRIVE MEANS

• US 20160140871A9
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Borealis Technical Limited (Borealis Exploration Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Borealis Technical Limited (Borealis Exploration Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cox, Rodney T., Vana, Jan, Goldman, Joseph, Cox, Isaiah W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,839,715 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/165 Control of aircraft

Abstract

A training system and method for operating aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means during independent ground travel is provided. The system and method of the present invention is designed specifically to train pilots, ground personnel, and air traffic control to move an aircraft safely and efficiently on the ground during taxi and pushback using the aircraft'"'"'s non-engine drive means to propel the aircraft independently during ground travel. Simulations and procedures for training pilots and ramp personnel in the conduct of pushback operations and forward taxi with an aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means are also provided.

Claims

1. A training system for operators of aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means to move the aircraft independently on the ground during taxi and pushback comprising simulation means, wherein said simulation means comprises:

a. an electronic simulation of an aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means controllable to drive the aircraft independently on the ground;

b. simulated control means activatable to control the ground movement of a simulated non-engine drive-equipped aircraft;

c. simulated communication means to provide a source of communication between an operator inside the aircraft controlling the non-engine drive means to drive the simulated aircraft on the ground and an operator outside the aircraft; and

d. electronic aircraft ground travel simulation means selectively activatable to simulate aircraft ground travel situations encountered during taxi and pushback when the simulated non-engine drive means-equipped aircraft is driven on the ground in an airport environment.

2. The training system of claim 1, wherein said electronic aircraft ground travel simulation means comprises software means selectively programmable to simulate a plurality of possible airport and ground travel conditions.

3. The training system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of possible airport and ground travel conditions is selected from the group comprising environmental conditions, traction conditions, slope of ground surface, presence of ground vehicles or personnel, presence of other aircraft, power flow to the non-engine drive means, and operation of the non-engine drive means.

4. The training system of claim 1, wherein said simulated communication means comprises audio or visual communication means.

5. The training system of claim 1, wherein the operator controlling the non-engine drive means is an aircraft pilot, the operator outside the aircraft is a ground marshal, and the simulated communication means provides communication between the pilot and the ground marshal.

6. The training system of claim 1, wherein the operator outside the aircraft is selected from the group comprising ramp personnel and air traffic controllers.

7. The training system of claim 6, wherein the operator controlling the non-engine drive means is an aircraft pilot, the operator outside the aircraft comprises ramp personnel, and the simulated communication means provides communication between the pilot and the ramp personnel.

14. A method for training air traffic control personnel, aircraft pilots, and airport ground personnel using the training system described in claim 1.

16. The training system of claim 1, further comprising a plug and play module comprising a plurality of ground situations and conditions likely to occur at a generic airport environment and at one or more specific airport environments.

8. A training system for operators of aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means to move the aircraft independently on the ground during pushback comprising simulation means located outside the aircraft, wherein said simulation means comprises simulated ground personnel positioned in optimum locations relative to an aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means to direct simulated pushback of the aircraft.

9. The training system of claim 8, wherein said simulated ground personnel comprise wire frames sized and constructed to be clearly visible to a pilot driving the aircraft during pushback when positioned in said optimum locations during simulated pushback.

10. A method for training aircraft pilots and airport ground personnel in the ground operation of an aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means during taxi and pushback in a wide range of airport environments and conditions, said method comprising:

a. providing an electronic simulation of an aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means controllable to move the aircraft independently on the ground during taxi and pushback;

b. providing simulated control means interfaced with a simulated non-engine drive means and activatable to control the non-engine drive means;

c. providing simulated audio or visual communication means to enable a pilot inside the aircraft to communicate with ground personnel outside the aircraft during simulated pushback and taxi situations and conditions; and

d. providing selectively actuatable simulation means to simulate a plurality of ground situations and conditions encountered during taxi and pushback of the aircraft; and

e. actuating the selectively actuatable simulator means to select one of said plurality of simulated taxi or pushback situations to train a pilot driving the non-engine drive means-equipped aircraft or ground personnel outside the aircraft by using the electronic aircraft simulation, the simulated control means, and the simulated communication means to simulate maneuvering the aircraft on the ground by the non-engine drive means during a selected pushback or taxi situation.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of ground situations and conditions is designed to occur at a generic airport.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of ground situations and conditions is designed to occur at a specific airport.

13. A method for training aircraft pilots in the ground operation of an aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means during pushback, said method comprising:

a. providing an aircraft equipped with non-engine drive means controllable by a pilot driving the aircraft to move the aircraft independently on the ground during pushback;

b. providing ground personnel simulation means located outside the aircraft comprising simulated ground personnel sized to be visible to the pilot during pushback; and

c. positioning said ground personnel simulation means in optimum locations relative to said aircraft to simulate the direction of pushback as the pilot drives the non-engine drive means-equipped aircraft.

15. A method for training air traffic control personnel, aircraft pilots driving non-engine drive means-equipped aircraft on the ground, and airport ground personnel comprising simulating control tower operations and communications between and among control tower personnel, aircraft pilots, and ground personnel and simulating the coordination of said communications to increase efficiency of ground operations and airport throughput in a wide range of airport environments and conditions.