COCKPIT DISPLAY SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING NAVIGATION DISPLAYS INCLUDING LANDING DIVERSION SYMBOLOGY

• US 20160229554A1
• Filed: 02/11/2015
• Published: 08/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Kawalkar, Amit Nishikant, Chaubey, Rajesh, Mohan, Rajeev
• Granted Patent: US 9,646,503 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/00 Traffic control systems for aircraft , e.g. air-traffic control [ATC]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0021 located in the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0039 Modification of a flight plan
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0056 in an emergency situation, e.g. hijacking
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/025 Navigation or guidance aids radar or analogous systems specially adapted for landing purposes G01S13/913

Abstract

Cockpit display systems and methods for generating navigation displays including landing diversion symbology are provided. In one embodiment, the cockpit display system includes a cockpit monitor and a controller coupled to the cockpit monitor. The controller is configured to assess the current feasibility of landing at one or more diversion airports in a range of an aircraft on which the cockpit display system is deployed. The controller is further configured to assign each diversion airport to one of a plurality of predetermined landing feasibility categories, and generate a horizontal navigation display on the cockpit monitor including symbology representative of the feasibility category assigned to one or more of the diversion airports.

Claims

1. A cockpit display system for deployment onboard an aircraft, the cockpit display system comprising:

a cockpit monitor; and

a controller coupled to the cockpit display system and configured to;

assess the current feasibility of landing at one or more diversion airports in a range of the aircraft;

assign each diversion airport to one of a plurality of predetermined landing feasibility categories; and

generate a horizontal navigation display on the cockpit monitor including symbology representative of the feasibility category assigned to one or more of the diversion airports.

2. The cockpit display system of claim 1 wherein the symbology comprises icons generated on the horizontal navigation display at or adjacent the locations of the diversion airports.

3. The cockpit display system of claim 2 wherein the icons are color coded to indicate the feasibility categories assigned to the diversion airports.

4. The cockpit display system of claim 1 further comprising an input device coupled to the controller, the controller further configured to:

receive data from the input device selecting one of the diversion airports; and

generate a vertical navigation display depicting a predicted trajectory profile and an ideal trajectory profile for the selected diversion airport.

5. The cockpit display system of claim 4 wherein the controller is further configured to generate at least one graphic on the vertical navigation display indicating a point at which a drag device of the aircraft should be deployed to follow the predicted trajectory profile.

6. The cockpit display system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to:

identify a designated airport at which the aircraft has been cleared to land;

assess the current feasibility of landing at a designated airport;

assign the designated airport to one of the plurality of predetermined landing feasibility categories; and

generate symbology on the horizontal navigation display indicating the location of the designated airport and the feasibility category assigned thereto.

7. The cockpit display system of claim 6 wherein the plurality of predetermined landing feasibility categories comprises first and second landing feasibility categories, the first landing feasibility category having a higher feasibility than does the second landing feasibility category, and wherein the controller is further configured to:

suppress display of the symbology representative of the feasibility category assigned to the diversion airports when the designated airport is assigned to the first feasibility category; and

display the symbology representative of the feasibility category assigned to the diversion airports if and when the designated airport is reassigned to the second feasibility category.

8. The cockpit display system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to assess the current feasibility of landing at each of the diversion airports as a function of (i) the likelihood of successfully landing at the diversion airport, and (ii) an estimated operational workload required to carry-out a successful landing at the diversion airport.

9. The cockpit display system of claim 1 further comprising one or more data sources coupled to the controller and configured to supply data thereto indicative of the present position of the aircraft, the locations of the diversion airports, weather conditions in the proximity of the diversion airports, and the current runway conditions of the diversion airports, and wherein the controller is configured to utilize the data supplied by the data sources in assessing the current feasibility of landing at the diversion airports.

10. The cockpit display system of claim 1 further comprising a pilot input operably coupled to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to perform the steps of assessing, assigning, and generating in response to a command received via the pilot input.

11. The cockpit display system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to perform the steps of assessing, assigning, and generating when there is a change in a parameter of a planned landing.

12. The cockpit display system of claim 1 further comprising a datalink subsystem operably coupled to the controller and enabling communication with an Air Traffic Controller (ATC) remote from the aircraft, and wherein the controller is further configured to:

assess the current feasibility of landing at a designated airport at which the aircraft is scheduled to land;

assign the designated airport to one of the plurality of predetermined landing feasibility categories; and

send data to the ATC via the datalink subsystem indicating landing feasibility category to which the designated airport has been assigned.

13. The cockpit display system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to generate graphics on the horizontal navigation display indicating at least one point at which a drag device of the aircraft should be deployed when landing at a selected diversion airport.

14. A cockpit display system for deployment onboard an aircraft, the cockpit display system comprising:

a cockpit monitor; and

a controller coupled to the cockpit display system and configured to;

assess the current feasibility of landing at a first landing option in range of the aircraft;

assign the first landing option to one of a plurality of predetermined landing feasibility categories; and

generate a navigation display on the cockpit monitor including symbology representative of the feasibility category assigned to the first landing option.

15. The cockpit display system of claim 14 wherein the controller is further configured to generate graphics on the navigation display indicating a point of deployment for a drag device of the aircraft when landing at the first landing option.

16. The cockpit display system of claim 14 wherein the symbology comprises a color coded icons, the color of the color coded icons distinguishing between the plurality of predetermined landing feasibility categories.

17. The cockpit display system of claim 16 wherein the plurality of predetermined landing feasibility categories comprise a high feasibility landing category, a moderate feasibility landing category, and a low feasibility landing category represented by a green color coded icon, an amber color coded icon, and a red color coded icon, respectively.

18. The cockpit display system of claim 14 wherein the first landing option is a designated airport at which the aircraft is scheduled to land.

19. The cockpit display system of claim 18 wherein the plurality of landing feasibility categories include a low feasibility landing category, and wherein the method further comprises:

if the designated airport is assigned to the low feasibility landing category, generating additional symbology on the navigation display indicating the location of one or more diversion airports.

20. A method carried-out by the cockpit display system of an aircraft, the cockpit display system including a controller and a cockpit monitor operably coupled to the controller, the method comprising:

at the controller, assessing the current feasibility of landing at one or more diversion airports in a range of the aircraft;

at the controller, assigning each diversion airport to one of a plurality of predetermined landing feasibility categories; and

at the display, generating a navigation display on the cockpit monitor including symbology representative of the feasibility category assigned to one or more of the diversion airports.