Flight management system

• US 7,437,225 B1
• Filed: 07/29/2005
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Rathinam, Sethu R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOUIE, WAE LENNY
• Application Number:
  US11/193,008
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 701/120, 701/16, 701/14, 701/29, 701/35, 701/301, 340/961, 342/35, 342/353
• US Class Current: 701/14
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0005 with arrangements to save energy
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0027 involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 5/0013 with a ground station

Abstract

The present invention is a system and method for providing flight management to one or more aircraft via a communication link between a fight management system located outside the aircraft and a flight management system located inside the aircraft. Remote flight management system may monitor and control navigation functions, substantially reducing pilot or crewmember workload. Optimized simultaneous flight management of multiple aircraft located within a specified area or within a specified fleet may be provided. Remote flight management system may be suitable for monitoring and controlling navigation functions for multiple aircraft from a single location.

Claims

1. A system for managing at least one aircraft, comprising:

an aircraft flight management system, said aircraft flight management system being located within an aircraft, said aircraft flight management system including a receiver for receiving data;

a second aircraft flight management system, said second aircraft flight management system being located within a second aircraft, said second aircraft flight management system including a receiver for receiving data; and

a remote flight management system, whereby said remote flight management system is operably connected to said aircraft flight management system and said second aircraft flight management system via a wireless link, said remote flight management system including a display suitable for presenting a graphical image, said graphical image capable of being segmented for displaying a graphical man and textual aircraft data for each of said aircraft and said second aircraft, said remote flight management system optimizes landing determination between said aircraft and said second aircraft based upon fuel information, passenger information and gate information.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aircraft flight management system further includes a display for presentation of said data.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said remote flight management system includes a navigation guidance for retrieving navigation data for said aircraft and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting said flight performance data to said aircraft flight management system.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said remote flight management system maintains a remaining fuel amount information, fuel rate, and a consumption fuel cost for said aircraft and said second aircraft.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said remote flight management system determines a landing priority for said aircraft and said second aircraft based upon said a remaining fuel amount information, fuel rate, and a consumption fuel cost for said aircraft and said second aircraft.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said remote flight management system is capable of retrieving data from a worldwide network.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said data includes gate availability and connecting flight information of passengers of said aircraft.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said landing priority is further based upon gate availability and connecting flight Information of passengers of said aircraft and said second aircraft.

9. A method for managing an aircraft via a remote flight management system, comprising:

receiving navigation information from sensors of a first aircraft and a second aircraft, said navigation information being wirelessly transmitted to a remote flight management system;

determining a position and velocity of said first aircraft and said second aircraft;

determining a steering guidance and navigational path based upon a destination of said first aircraft and said second aircraft and position/velocity Information for said first aircraft and said second aircraft;

displaying a graphical image, said graphical image being segmented for displaying a graphical map and textual aircraft data for each of said aircraft and said second aircraft; and

transferring said steering guidance and navigational path information to said first aircraft and said second aircraft via a wireless link, wherein said first aircraft and said second aircraft operates according to said steering guidance and navigational path, said steering and navigational path being based upon fuel information, passenger information and gate information.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said sensors include global positioning system receiver.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said steering guidance and navigational path is adjusted to account for weather issues.

12. A system for managing at least one aircraft, comprising:

an aircraft flight management system, said aircraft flight management system being located within an aircraft, said aircraft flight management system including a receiver for receiving data and a display for presentation of said data;

a second aircraft flight management system, said second aircraft flight management system being located within a second aircraft; and

a remote flight management system, whereby said remote flight management system is operably connected to said aircraft flight management system and said second aircraft flight management system via a wireless link, said remote flight management system being capable of retrieving data for said aircraft and said second aircraft and transferring said flight performance data to said aircraft flight management system and said second aircraft flight management system, said remote flight management system including navigation guidance for retrieving navigation data for said aircraft and said second aircraft and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting said flight performance data to said aircraft flight management system and said second aircraft flight management system, said remote flight management system including a display suitable for presenting a graphical image, said graphical image capable of being segmented for displaying a graphical map and textual aircraft data for each of said aircraft and said second aircraft, said remote flight management system optimizing landing determination between said aircraft and said second aircraft based upon fuel information, passenger information and gate information.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said second aircraft flight management system includes a receiver for receiving data from said remote flight management system.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said remote flight management system maintains a remaining fuel amount information, fuel rate, and a consumption fuel cost for said aircraft and said second aircraft.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said remote flight management system determines a landing priority for said aircraft and said second aircraft based upon said a remaining fuel amount information, fuel rate, and a consumption fuel cost for said aircraft and said second aircraft.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said remote flight management system is capable of retrieving data from a worldwide network.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said data includes gate availability and connecting flight information of passengers of said aircraft.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17, wherein said landing priority is further based upon gate availability and connecting flight information of passengers of said aircraft and said second aircraft.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18, wherein said remote flight management system includes a display.

20. The system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said display includes flight performance information of said aircraft and said second aircraft.