Cockpit access protection system

• US 6,766,983 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dʼalvia, Graham R.
• Original Assignee: Dʼalvia, Graham R.
• Inventors: DʼAlvia, Graham R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holzen, Stephen A.
• Application Number:
  US10/299,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20040094667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.5, 244/118.1, 244/118.2, 244/118.6, 244/117.R, 244/138.R
• US Class Current: 244/118.5
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/1469 Doors between cockpit and cabin
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0029 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/38 with central registration

Abstract

The cockpit access protection system relies upon pass codes for an aircraft and utilizes the galley area as a security area to verify a person'"'"'s identity before allowing access to the cockpit. The system includes normal operation to ensure that unauthorized personnel do not gain access to the cockpit. Upon breach of security, the cockpit door is automatically locked by a computer on the ground. A false signal of security breach can be overcome by an authorized flight crew member communicating with ground control upon verification that the report of a false security breach is not made under duress. The system also allows emergency access to the cockpit in the event of a medical or other similar emergency.

Claims

1. An aircraft having a cockpit security system, comprising:

an aircraft cockpit, said cockpit having a cockpit door to grant access to the cockpit, said cockpit door having a lock;

a control center remote from said aircraft, said control center providing an alphanumeric code to said aircraft and being able to operate said lock on said cockpit door, in the event of a security breach, to automatically lock said cockpit door;

a network node in said aircraft for communicating with said control center to receive said alphanumeric code and instructions for locking said cockpit door;

a keypad, located in said aircraft and coupled to said network node, for entering flight crew identification information and said alphanumeric code;

said network node being responsive to the receipt of said alphanumeric code from the keypad for unlocking said cockpit door.

2. The security system of claim 1, further comprising a camera mounted in said aircraft outside of said cockpit.

3. The security system of claim 2, wherein images from said camera are viewable from said control center.

4. The security system of claim 2, further comprising a monitor in said cockpit, said monitor linked to said camera for viewing images from said camera.

5. The security system of claim 1, further comprising:

a galley area of said aircraft located outside of said cockpit, and

a galley door separating said galley area from the remaining cabin area of said aircraft.

6. The security system of claim 5, further comprising sensors on located in the vicinity of said galley door indicating whether the galley door is opened or closed.

7. The security system of claim 6, further comprising a light in the cabin area indicating the locked condition of the galley door.

8. The security system of claim 7, wherein said light is red when the galley door is locked and green when the galley door is unlocked.

9. The security system of claim 1, further comprising a an aircraft exterior door located outside of said cockpit, said door leading to the exterior of the aircraft, and sensors located in the vicinity of said door for indicating whether the exterior door is opened or closed.

10. The security system of claim 1, further comprising a two-way radio located in the cabin area of said aircraft outside of said cockpit for providing communication between aircraft personnel and personnel at said control center.

11. A method for securing an aircraft cabin having a cockpit and a galley, adjacent to said cockpit, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a lockable cockpit door to block access to the cockpit from the remaining portion of the aircraft cabin;

providing a lockable galley door to block access to the galley from the remaining portion of the aircraft cabin;

placing a sensor in the vicinity of said galley door to signal when said galley door is locked;

allowing authorized personnel into said cockpit and locking said cockpit door;

locking said galley door, and unlocking said cockpit door and allowing authorized personnel into the galley from the cockpit when said sensor confirms that said galley door is locked;

assigning an alphanumeric code to the aircraft;

storing said code on a network node on said aircraft; and

unlocking said cockpit door upon entry of said alphanumeric code in a keypad coupled to said network node.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of locking the cockpit door after said authorized personnel have left the cockpit.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of conducting a visual inspection of said galley before allowing said authorized personnel to reenter the cockpit.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of sending a signal to flight attendants that it is allowable to unlock the galley door after said authorized personnel have reentered the cockpit and the cockpit door has been locked.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising a light for indicating the locked condition of said galley door.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising said sensor the steps of sending a signal to said network node in said cockpit aircraft indicating when at least one of said cockpit door and said galley door is locked.

17. The method of claim 11,

further comprising the step of verifying the identities of the authorized personnel before allowing said authorized personnel to reenter the cockpit.

18. The method of claim 11 comprising the step of generating said alphanumeric code in a control center remote from the aircraft and transmitting said code to said aircraft.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of scrambling said alphanumeric code in the event of a security breach.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of scrambling said codes for all aircraft in the event of a security breach.

21. The Method of claim 20, further comprising the step of allowing the unlocking of said cockpit door after verifying no security breach exists.

22. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of preventing the unlocking of the cockpit door in the event of a security breach.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of verifying that no security breach exists by communicating with a control center remote from said aircraft.

24. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of entering flight crew identification numbers on a keypad before assigning said code.