System and process for providing improved aircraft operational safety

• US 7,271,740 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovative Aviation Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mark R. Fischer
• Inventors: Fischer, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/018,749
• Publication Number:
  US 20060022845A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 340/945, 340/959, 340/960, 340/961, 340/962, 340/963, 340/971, 701/14, 701/120, 701/121, 701/29, 701/2, 701/16, 342/29, 342/30, 244/118.5, 244/183, 244/189, 244/194
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0059 by communicating emergency situations to ground control or between crew members
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0833 using audio means
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0086 for monitoring terrain radar or analogous systems specially adapted for terrain avoidance G01S13/935
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/045 Navigation or guidance aids, e.g. determination of anti-collision manoeuvers radar or analogous systems specially adapted for anti-collision between aircraft G01S13/933
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and a process for providing improved operational safety for aircraft. The system/process of the instant invention utilizes real-time, two-way transmission of voice and/or text and flight-critical data between an aircraft and a ground-based computer workstation, where transmitted information monitored and acted upon as necessary by a qualified flight safety person, e.g., a appropriately trained individual (including but not limited to a safety pilot or other person trained in safety procedures). This safety person can perform a number of functions that would enhance flight safety, such as reducing the workload of the primary pilot(s), assisting in the performance of routine checklists, monitoring communications with air traffic control, and advising the pilot in the aircraft on how to handle any in-flight situations that may arise. By providing many if not all of the advantages of a second or third pilot in the aircraft cockpit without imposing additional weight or space requirements on the aircraft, the system/process of the instant invention can increase flight safety while reducing the associated costs.

Claims

1. A system for providing improved operational safety of a piloted aircraft comprising:

a plurality of on-board aircraft sensors and avionics for providing real-time data relevant to the operational safety of the aircraft;

a communication channel for establishing real-time voice or text communications with the aircraft;

a remote processor for processing the real-time data relevant to the operational safety of the aircraft to provide a real-time flight analysis; and

a ground based computer workstation for providing the real-time flight analysis and voice or text communications to a remote safety person functioning in a co-pilot capacity for monitoring the operational safety of the aircraft and providing information designed to improve flight safety.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of real-time data sources other than from the aircraft itself relevant to the operational safety of the aircraft.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said plurality of real-time data sources other than from the aircraft itself may include at least two of air traffic, weather, freezing levels, and runway conditions.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said real-time data sources comprises an air traffic control broadcast.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said real-time data relevant to the operational safety of the aircraft comprises aircraft speed, aircraft position, aircraft attitude, aircraft configuration, aircraft altitude, aircraft rates of change, landing gear position, and flap position.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a ground-based communication network for relaying said real-time data and voice and/or text communications from the aircraft to the ground based computer workstation.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said ground-based communication network comprises a ground-based communication facility, a provider workstation provider facility, and the ground-based computer workstation.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said ground-based computer workstation comprises a workstation display for displaying information to the remote safety person functioning in a co-pilot capacity.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the information displayed on the workstation display comprises a replication of airborne displays for flight monitoring and safety information.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the information displayed on the workstation display comprises aircraft configuration, performance, location, and flight data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the information displayed on the workstation display comprises safety information, collision avoidance data, weather, airport and runway conditions, terrain, winds, aircraft operating parameters, and checklists.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the information displayed on the workstation display comprises at least one of aircraft configuration, performance, location, flight data, safety information, collision avoidance data, weather, airport and runway conditions, terrain, winds, aircraft operating parameters, and checklists.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the workstation display comprises a simulated instrument panel.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the simulated instrument panel comprises a virtual simulator.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the information displayed on the virtual simulator comprises information relating to nearby terrain, air or ground traffic, prevailing weather and visibility conditions.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising system software on the ground-based computer workstation for displaying aircraft configuration, performance, location, and flight data on the workstation display.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication channel comprises two-way communication between a flight crew and the remote safety person functioning in a co-pilot capacity.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising a data sampling device for transmitting the on-board aircraft sensor data and avionics to the ground-based computer workstation over the communication channel.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising an audio panel transceiver so that both the remote safety person functioning in a co-pilot capacity and a real pilot can hear at least some aircraft radio transmissions broadcast over the communication channel.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein said real-time flight analysis and voice and/or text communications transmitted to the remote safety person functioning in a co-pilot capacity for monitoring comprises encrypted communications.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein said communication channel comprises a satellite link.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the satellite link comprises an orbiting communications satellite based communication network.

23. The system of claim 1, further comprising an aircraft cockpit display for displaying text messages transmitted from the ground-based computer workstation by the remote safety person functioning in a co-pilot capacity.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the data displayed on the aircraft cockpit display comprises text messages of information and/or instructions from the remote safety person functioning in a co-pilot capacity.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein said real-time data relevant to the operational safety of the aircraft comprises at least one of aircraft speed, aircraft position, aircraft attitude, aircraft configuration, aircraft altitude, aircraft rates of change, landing gear position, and flap position.

26. A process for providing improved operational safety of a piloted aircraft comprising:

accessing in real-time data relevant to the operational safety of the aircraft from on-board aircraft sensors and avionics;

establishing real-time voice and/or text communications with the aircraft over a communication channel;

processing said real-time data relevant to the operational safety of the aircraft on a remote processor to provide a real-time flight analysis;

providing said real-time flight analysis and voice and/or text communications to a remote safety person functioning in a co-pilot capacity for monitoring the operational safety of the aircraft on a ground-based computer workstation; and

transmitting information and/or instructions to the aircraft for improving the operational safety of the aircraft based on the flight analysis and/or voice and/or text communications.

27. The process of claim 26, further comprising accessing in real-time data relevant to the operational safety of the aircraft from sources other than the aircraft itself.

28. The process of claim 27, wherein accessing the real-time data from sources other than the aircraft itself comprises receiving information such as air traffic, weather, freezing levels, and runway conditions.

29. The process of claim 27, wherein accessing the real-time data comprises receiving an air traffic control broadcast.

30. The process of claim 27, wherein accessing the real-time data from sources other than the aircraft itself comprises receiving information including at least one of air traffic, weather, freezing levels, and runway conditions.

31. The process of claim 26, wherein accessing the real-time data relevant to the operational safety of the aircraft comprises receiving aircraft speed, aircraft position, aircraft attitude, aircraft configuration, aircraft altitude, aircraft rates of change, landing gear position, and flap position.

32. The process of claim 26, further comprising relaying the real-time data and voice and/or text communications from the aircraft to the ground-based computer workstation through a communication network.

33. The process of claim 26, further comprising transmitting a plurality of flight critical data feeds to the ground-based computer workstation.

34. The process of claim 26, further comprising displaying information to the remote safety person functioning in a co-pilot capacity on a computer workstation display.

35. The process of claim 34, wherein displaying information on the workstation display comprises replicating airborne displays for flight monitoring and safety information.

36. The process of claim 35, wherein displaying information on the workstation display comprises displaying aircraft configuration, performance, location, and flight data.

37. The process of claim 36, wherein displaying information on the workstation display comprises displaying safety information, collision avoidance data, weather, airport and runway conditions, terrain, winds, aircraft operating parameters, and checklists.

38. The process of claim 36, wherein displaying information on the workstation display comprises displaying at least one of safety information, collision avoidance data, weather, airport and runway conditions, terrain, winds, aircraft operating parameters, and checklists.

39. The process of claim 35, wherein displaying information on the workstation display comprises displaying at least one of aircraft configuration, performance, location, and flight data.

40. The process of claim 34, wherein displaying information on the workstation display comprises displaying information on a simulated instrument panel.

41. The process of claim 40, wherein displaying information on the simulated instrument panel comprises displaying information on a virtual simulator.

42. The process of claim 41, wherein displaying information on the virtual simulator comprises displaying nearby terrain, air or ground traffic, prevailing weather and visibility conditions.

43. The process of claim 26, further comprising displaying aircraft configuration, performance, location, and flight data using system software on the ground-based computer workstation.

44. The process of claim 26, wherein communicating between a flight crew and the remote safety person functioning in a co-pilot capacity over the communication channel comprises communicating through two-way transmission.

45. The process of claim 26, further comprising transmitting the data from the on-board aircraft sensors and avionics through a data sampling device.

46. The process of claim 26, wherein providing the real-time flight analysis and voice and/or text communications to the remote safety person functioning in a co-pilot capacity for monitoring comprises receiving all radio aircraft transmissions using an audio panel transceiver.

47. The process of claim 26, wherein providing the real-time flight analysis and voice and/or text communications to the remote safety person functioning in a co-pilot capacity for monitoring comprises transmitting encrypted communications.

48. The process of claim 26, wherein transmitting information and/or instructions to the aircraft comprises transmitting pre-flight, flight, and post-flight information and/or instructions.

49. The process of claim 48, wherein transmitting the pre-flight information and/or instructions comprises transmitting flight planning, calculation of fuel load, information regarding weather conditions, and performance of pre-flight checklist tasks.

50. The process of claim 48, wherein transmitting the flight information and/or instructions comprises transmitting alternate routes and/or landing planning.

51. The process of claim 48, wherein transmitting the pre-flight information and/or instructions comprises transmitting at least one of flight planning, calculation of fuel load, information regarding weather conditions, and performance of pre-flight checklist tasks.

52. The process of claim 26, further comprising transmitting a text message transmission from the ground-based computer workstation by the remote safety person functioning in a co-pilot capacity to an aircraft cockpit display.

53. The process of claim 26, wherein accessing the real-time data relevant to the operational safety of the aircraft comprises at least one of receiving aircraft speed, aircraft position, aircraft attitude, aircraft configuration, aircraft altitude, aircraft rates of change, landing gear position, and flap position.

54. The process of claim 26, further comprising displaying at least one of aircraft configuration, performance, location, and flight data using system software on the ground-based computer workstation.

55. The process of claim 26, wherein transmitting information and/or instructions to the aircraft comprises transmitting at least one of pre-flight, flight, and post-flight information and/or instructions.